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Show posters on the hill Diesel Fuel from Almost Nothing Richard Gates, Matthew C. Webster, Brian C. Dunn, Paul, Edward M. Eyring Department of Chemistry UT Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis CO + H2 Gaseous Fuels (C1-C4) Gasoline (C5-C9) Diesel (C10-C20) Properties of Silica Aerogel Bulk density, g cm-1 0.003 n 0.5 Mean pore diameter, nm 20 n 300 Surface area, m2 g1 100 n 1600 * N. Husing, U. Schubert, Angew. Chan Int. Ed 1998, 37, 22-45. What is Silica Aerogel? t Produced from the interaction of silica with ethanol. I 3-D randomly interconnected network ol'SiO,. i Open space accounts for 85 to 95% of the Empty space Silica particle I 1 \\ Supercritical Drying Tilt key to sueecWiiiK tuMiinu a >iiita aerogel is removing the pore-filling sol\ tnt nithow u>ll;ipsmg ihe pores. This is accomplished b\ dryinti under¦ M)pcrattu.-;il ctliaitot m j taiijvr.ilurc of 395 degrees Celsius and UifiOpsi tor a period of 4 bouis F-T Activity for Co(NO3) Loaded Aerogels j Transmission Electron Microscop) * Image of Doped Silica Aerogel 2% Co 6% Co i 10% Co 50 nm particles 70 nm panicles Particles of metallic cobalt are seen as dark spot suspended in the silica aerogel matrix. Diesel Fuel from Almost Nothing Richard Gates, Matthew C. Webster, Brian C. Dunn, Paul, Edward M. Eyring Department of Chemistry monoxide and hydrogen (both of which can be obtained from coal) to produce hydrocarbon chains, as a means of producing hydrocarbons in the diesel fuel range (10-22 carbons). Aerogels impregnated with cobalt or ruthenium are selective for a range of hydrocarbons containing 10 or more carbons, proving silica aerogel is an effective catalytic support for the production of diesel fuel. Lerogels are produced when silica particles interact in ethanol or methanol to create a 3-D, randomly interconnected network in which open space accounts for 85-95% of the volume. This silica lattice has a surface area of 800 square meters per gram with an average pore diameter of 40 nanometers. Aerogels are then impregnated with a catalyst, primarily cobalt or ruthenium, and dried under supercritical ethanol at a temperature of 395 degrees Celsius and 1800 psi for a period of 4 hours. Using TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) the diameter of the cobalt nanoparticles was determined to be between 50 and 70 nanometers. Impregnated aerogels are employed in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the catalytic reaction of carbon |