03/03/2026
Energy-efficient catalysis in action: new results from PYROCO2
Within the framework of the PYROCO2 project, Tien Hoang Nguyen (PhD student at IRCELYON) and co-authors present their latest publication, “Pulse Catalytic Isopropanol Dehydration to Propylene Over Natural Acidic Clays: Comparison With Zeolite and Amorphous Silica–Alumina” offering new insights into sustainable catalytic routes for propylene production.
The study provides a comprehensive characterization of natural acidic clay catalysts, establishing clear structure–acidity–activity relationships that govern their performance in pulse catalytic dehydration of isopropanol. By systematically benchmarking these materials against zeolites and amorphous silica–alumina, the work highlights the distinctive advantages of saponite-based catalysts.
Notably, saponites demonstrate efficient operation at 150 °C with high propylene selectivity, while requiring only mild thermal activation at 200 °C. This gentler activation preserves structural integrity and acid site density, reinforcing their suitability for stable, energy-efficient catalytic processes. These findings underscore the strong industrial potential of natural acidic clays, particularly for low-temperature applications, in line with PYROCO2’s ambition to advance sustainable and resource-efficient chemical technologies.
The research also confirms the effectiveness of the DSC–GC pulse setup as a convenient and robust screening tool for identifying industrially relevant temperature windows across diverse solid catalysts.
This work was funded by the PYROCO2 project. The authors gratefully acknowledge the guidance of Georgeta Postole, Aline Auroux, and Jean-Luc Dubois, as well as the technical and analytical teams at the Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse et l’Environnement de Lyon (IRCELYON), with special thanks to Chantal Lorentz and Tristan Cabanis for their essential support.
Part of these results was presented at the FCCat Congress (Ronce-les-Bains, France), May 2025.
