Description

The Group for Molecular Design of Heterogeneous Catalysts carries out scientific research to solve present technologic problems of high social impact. From this standpoint, the environmental problems, principally the catalytic removal of atmospheric harmful gases and waste water treatments, are broached through the design and development of efficient solid catalysts. C1 chemistry concepts are being applied to the obtention of basic chemical compounds, e.g. hydrocarbons or syngas. The production and storage of hydrogen are tackled with CO free processes and application of membrane reactors. The synthesis of specific chemical compounds (Fine Chemistry) is carried out with highly selective catalysts, as in hydrogenation reactions. Our projects of large-scale production of pure carbon nanotubes and graphenes can be catalogued of immediate technologic application. In these studies a great variety of techniques and experimental methodologies are usually applied, in which it can be pointed out: spectroscopic techniques (Mössbauer, FTIR, XPS, XANES), thermal analysis (microcalorimetry, TG, TPR, TPD), analytical techniques (gas chromatography, mass spectrometry), electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Finally, the study of surface processes and reaction mechanisms is carried using isotopicallly labeled molecules, e.g. in a Temporal Analysis of Products reactor (TAP-2).

WEB site of the group: https://gdmch.csic.es/

Surface Chemistry Laboratory

The Surface Chemistry Laboratory of the group Molecular Design of Heterogeneous Catalysts (ICP-CSIC) has a Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP-2) reactor and a Tian-Calvet C80 calorimeter with the characteristics described below.

  • Reactor TAP: is a time-resolved technique for accurate kinetic characterization of gas-solid reactions in catalysis, adsorption, and other applications. Unlike conventional kinetic devices (eg, tube-flow or well-mixed reactors), gas transport in the TAP reactor occurs via Knudsen diffusion, a special transport regime in which molecules they collide with the reactor walls and catalytic surfaces, but not with each other. Gas-phase reactions which may interfere with the gas-solid interactions of interest are completely eliminated under TAP conditions. In a TAP experiment, an ultra-low intensity pulse is injected into the microreactor under vacuum conditions. Different probe molecules can be used to distinguish certain bond breaking/formation reactions, and long pulse experiments can be used to gradually trace changes in material composition (oxidation/ reduction/ deactivation) and the resulting impact on kinetics.
  • Microcalorimeter C80: The calorimeter can work in isothermal or ramp from 25 to 350ºC. The calorimeter is coupled to a volumetric vacuum system that allows the treatment of the catalysts and the determination of adsorption isotherms and associated heats. Calculation of adsorbed quantities and adsorption heat profiles. Different gases can be used for the identification of surface energetic heterogeneity of metal catalysts or the surface basicity (acidity) in metal oxides.

This laboratory offers to support scientific research, both internal (from the ICP) and external (from other CSIC centers, OPIs, universities and companies) through these techniques. To request a service please contact the person in charge and the feasibility of the measure will be assessed.. The tariffs of the experiments given the diversity and complexity of these will be agreed for each particular case.

People

Inmaculada Rodríguez Ramos – Group leader

María Virtudes Morales Vargas – Staff

José María Conesa Alonso– Staff

Ana Belén Dongil de Pedro – Staff

Jorge Moral Pombo – Staff

Verónica Naharro Ovejero – Staff

Laura Martinez Quintana – Staff

Projects

“Catalysts for biocompounds hydrogenation with formic acid and for valorization of carbon dioxide”,  Financial Organization: Spanish AEI; Reference: PID2020-119160RB-C21; 2021-2024

“Natural biobased materials for CO2 valorization through heterogeneous catalysis. Towards negative CO2 emissions”, Financial Organization: Spanish CSIC; Reference: COOPB20487; 2021-2022

“Biomass and CO2 valorisation to high value added chemicals”, Financial Organization: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2020; Reference: 101008058 — BIOALL; 2021-2025

“Producción de hidrogeno a partir de ácido fórmico empleando calefacción magnética”, Financial Organization: Spanish AEI; Reference: TED2021-130525A-I00; 2022-2024

Publications

Patents

  • A. Guerrero-Ruiz, Eva Castillejos, Belén Bachiller-Baeza, I. Rodríguez-Ramos, M. Fernández-García, A. Iglesias-Juez. Procedimiento de obtención de nanopartículas de Pd soportadas en materiales de carbono y aplicación de las mismas en hidrogenación selectiva de poliolefinas e hidrocarburos acetilénicos. Patent P201400992, Spain, 2014. Holder Entitiy: UNED-CSIC.
  • M. Fernández-García, A. Kubacka, I. Rodríguez-Ramos, E. Gallegos-Suarez, A. Guerrero-Ruiz. Catalizador sólido ternario para la reacción de reformado de glicerol; procedimiento de preparación y utilización. Patent P201331786, Spain, 2013. Holder entity: UNED-CSIC
  • M. Fernández García, I. Rodríguez Ramos, A. Kubacka. Catalizador de M-Cu-Ce para la reaccion de desplazamiento de gas de agua (WGS). Patent: P 201131893, Spain 2011. Holder entity: CSIC