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 4 days on TOSCA 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 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 This recently-discovered multifunctional catalyst (unpublished) exhibit record high selectivity of ethylene from the conversion of PET wastes.