Elucidating Catalyst Deactivation via Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy

The Mo/HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst offers some of the highest selectivity towards benzene from methane within methane dehydroaromatization, or MDA, reactions. Where most research involving Mo/HZSM-5 and MDA seek methods in which the catalyst can be regenerated, typically via removing coking, this research project seeks to track the dynamic nature of catalyst active sites within zeolites using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, or PALS. Although analysis of active sites is not unique in the field of catalysis or within the transient kinetics group, the specific analyses conducted have yet to be completed with PALS.