Homogeneous catalysis of valeronitrile hydrolysis under supercritical conditions.

Supercritical nitrile hydrolysis can be used for both, amide and acid production as well as waste water treatment, as the hydrolysis products show good biodegradability. The conventional process at ambient conditions requires large amounts of mineral acid or base. Approaches that use supercritical water as a green solvent without a catalyst have been investigated over recent years.

Interplay between defect structure and catalytic activity in the Mo(10-x)V(x)O(y) mixed-oxide system.

The Mo(10-x)V(x)O(y) solid-solution systems (0≤x≤10) were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results show the existence of paramagnetic vanadyl VO(2+) species, whose concentration becomes maximal for Mo(5)V(5)O(y·). A quantitative analysis of the [VO(2+)] concentration as a function of the Mo/V ratio allows it to characterize the prevailing defect chemistry in the Mo(10-x)V(x)O(y) system.

Binary [Cu2O/MWCNT] and ternary [Cu2O/ZnO/MWCNT] nanocomposites: formation, characterization and catalytic performance in partial ethanol oxidation.

Cuprous oxide agglomerates composed of 4-10 nm Cu2O nanoparticles were deposited on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and on ZnO/MWCNTs to give binary [Cu2O/MWCNT] and ternary [Cu2O/ZnO/MWCNT] composites. Di-aqua-bis[2-(methoxyimino)propanoato]copper Cu[O2CCCH3NOMe](2)·2H2O 1 in DMF was used as single source precursor for the deposition of nanoscaled Cu2O. The precursor decomposes either in air or under argon to yield CuO2 by in situ redox reaction.

Valeronitrile hydrolysis in supercritical water.

Nitriles act as important intermediates for the chemical industry and are accessible on a large scale through hydrocyanation or ammonoxidation. Nitrile hydrolysis yields amides and acids used in various applications. The conventional nitrile hydrolysis process relies on stoichiometric amounts of mineral acid or base which inherently deliver great amounts of waste brine.

Heterogeneously catalysed partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid--structure, function and dynamics of the V-Mo-W mixed oxides.

The major objective of this research project was to reach a microscopic understanding of the structure, function and dynamics of V-Mo-(W) mixed oxides for the partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid. Different model catalysts (from binary and ternary vanadium molybdenum oxides up to quaternary oxides with additional tungsten) were prepared via a solid state preparation route and hydrochemical preparation of precursors by spray-drying or crystallisation with subsequent calcination. The phase composition was investigated ex situ by XRD and HR-TEM.