Composite Catalyst with Dual Acid Sites for Cyclic Ether Polymerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catalysts for catalyzing the polymerization of cyclic ethers are highly corrosive, require strict equipment, have unreasonable acidity leading to high color number and wide molecular weight distribution, and low activity, which is unsuitable for high-end applications.
Innovation Solution
A composite catalyst is prepared by dissolving a metal salt in a solvent, adding a silicon source, reacting, drying, and calcining to create a catalyst with both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites, achieving suitable acidity and high conversion rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If acidic catalysts such as Lewis acid and fluorosulfonic acid are used to catalyze polymerization of cyclic ether compounds, then the polymerization reaction can proceed, but the catalysts are extremely corrosive and have strict requirements on equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solid acid catalyst as an intermediary substance that mediates the polymerization reaction between cyclic ether compounds and initiators. The solid acid catalyst provides active sites for catalysis while being physically contained, eliminating the corrosiveness and equipment compatibility issues of liquid acidic catalysts like fluorosulfonic acid and boron trifluoride.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the catalyst from liquid (fluorosulfonic acid, boron trifluoride) to solid form. This parameter change fundamentally alters the catalyst's interaction with equipment, eliminating corrosion issues while maintaining catalytic activity through the solid acid's surface active sites.
2Productivity
If acidic catalysts are used for polymerization, then the reaction can proceed, but the acidity is unreasonable, resulting in high color number and wide molecular weight distribution of the polymer
Solution Approach 1:
The solid acid catalyst provides localized active sites on its surface with controlled acid strength and distribution. This local quality control allows the reaction to proceed with uniform catalysis, producing polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution and low color number, unlike the uncontrolled strong acidity of conventional catalysts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the acid strength parameter of the catalyst by selecting appropriate solid acid materials and adjusting their preparation conditions. This parameter optimization ensures the catalyst has sufficient activity for polymerization while maintaining reasonable acidity to produce high-quality polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution.
3Productivity
If conventional catalysts are used, then polymerization can occur, but the catalyst activity is relatively low, resulting in low conversion rates or complex processing procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes key parameters including the type of solid acid catalyst, its surface area, pore structure, and acid site density. These parameter optimizations significantly enhance catalyst activity, achieving high conversion rates (above 90%) while simplifying the polymerization process and reducing the need for complex post-processing procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite catalyst achieves higher conversion rates and narrower molecular weight distribution, is non-corrosive, and reduces energy consumption, suitable for producing polyether polymers with low color number and wide applications.
Implementation Method 1
adding a silicon source, reacting, drying, and calcining to create a catalyst with both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites
Implementation Method 2
The composite catalyst of the present disclosure has suitable acidity, and has acid sites of Lewis acid and Bronsted acid at the same time. The composite catalyst of the present disclosure can exhibit special performance in catalyzing ring-opening polymerization reaction of cyclic ethers by the combination of the two acid sites.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the field of catalyst preparation, and more particularly to a composite catalyst for catalyzing polymerization of cyclic ethers, a preparation method and a use thereof. The method includes the following steps: (1) dissolving a metal salt in a solvent, stirring evenly to obtain a first component; (2) adding a silicon source to the first component, reacting the silicon source and the metal salt, and standing; (3) removing the solvent, drying, to obtain a dried powder; (4) calcining the dried powder to obtain the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst prepared by the present disclosure has suitable acidity, and has acid sites of Lewis acid and Bronsted acid at the same time. The composite catalyst can show suitable acidity through the combination of two acid sites, to achieve higher conversion rate and narrower molecular weight distribution in the ring-opening polymerization reaction of cyclic ethers.