INS study of multifunctional zeolites for catalytic conversion of plastic wastes to ethylene

Efficient synthesis of value-added chemicals from plastic wastes remains a major challenge. We request 5 days on MAPS to carry out an inelastic neutron scattering (INS) study of a multifunctional zeolite catalyst (Ru/SAPO-34-Nb: Ru-loaded Nb-doped SAPO-34 zeolite) for the highly selective conversion of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to ethylene. The proposed study will investigate the vibrational spectra (e.g., C-H and O-H stretching modes) of the catalyst, adsorption of guest molecules (PET and glycol) and any possible reaction intermediates on catalyst surface. In particular, this study aims to reveal the roles of Nb(V)/Ru sites and Si-O-Al/P-O-Al groups in the binding to guest molecules and in the catalytic reactions. This recently-discovered multifunctional catalyst (unpublished) exhibit record high selectivity of ethylene from the conversion of PET wastes.