• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.587-593
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• 2011

As a result of increasing environmental concerns related to air quality and maintenance of automobiles, the alkylation of isobutane with olefins has become an even more important process for production of high quality gasoline. However, the widespread use of the alkylation process is limited by the polluting and corrosive liquid acid catalysts (HF and $H_2SO_4$) currently used in industry. For the reason, a large number of solid catalysts, especially zeolites, have been studied as an environmental friendly catalyst in this process. Recently, mesoporous solid acids and ionic liquids have been investigated as a green catalyst. In this review, the research of environmental friendly catalysts for an isobutane alkylation is summarized.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Sulfonic acid (-SO3H) functionalized mesoporous silica containing HMS, SBA 15(S15), MCM 41(M41) were synthesized by post-synthesis and co-condensation method. Their catalytic performance is tested by dehydration reaction of D-xylose to furfural. As a result, good conversion and selectivity was obtained using water as an environmentally friendly solvent. Additionally, increased amounts of sulfuric acid in catalysts resulted in improved conversion of D-xylose. All of the acid-functionalized mesoporous silica showed higher selectivity than other solid acids such as ${\gamma}-Al_{2}O_{3}$ and zeolite.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2011

In this study, the formation of $AlPO_4$-type porous materials from alum sludge was investigated. The materials were synthesized by the reaction of aluminum hydroxide and phosphoric acid with an organic template. Cationic surfactant, natural humic acid, and amino acids were used for the organic template. The residual organic templates were removed by calcination at $600^{\circ}C$ in the air. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns showed the charicteristic patterns of the $AlPO_4$-type porous materials. The morphology of the material was examined using a scanning electron microscopy. The coordination environment of $Al^{3+}$ ion was investigated by $^{27}Al$ MAS NMR technique. Both tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated$Al^{3+}$ ions were found in the as-synthesized samples while all $Al^{3+}$ ions were tetrahedrally coordinated in the calcined products. The development of mesopore in the solid material was confirmed by the measurement of BET specific surface area. Finally, they were used for removal of toxic formaldehyde from the air and the formaldehyde molecules were adsorbed on the surface of pores. In conclusion, $AlPO_4$-type porous materials from alum sludge might be applicable in the removal of toxic volatile organic compounds from the air.