Des silice-alumines (SA) avec des propriétés acides améliorées et une fraction plus élevée d’aluminium acides ont été préparées en utilisant deux stratégies de synthèse. Leurs propriétés texturales ont été étudiées par physisorption de N2 et leurs propriétés acides par suivi FTIR de l’adsorption de molécules sondes (pyridine ou CO). Par ailleurs, la réaction d’isomérisation du 33DMB1 a été utilisée pour caractériser leurs performances catalytiques et leurs propriétés acides. La première stratégie de synthèse a été de désaluminer des silice-alumines commerciales avec de l’acetylacetone ou de l’acide citrique (CA). CA est plus actif et plus sélectif que Acac et permet de retirer jusqu’à 87% des Al initialement présents tout en augmentant la quantité de sites acides (jusqu’à 41%) et en multipliant par 5 la fraction d’Al acides. La seconde stratégie a été de greffé des précurseurs d’aluminium (Al(OPri)xL3-x, TIBA, DiBAH) sur des silices. Toutes les SA obtenues par greffage présentent une activité catalytique plus élevées que les SA commerciales et la zéolithe, mais seules certaines de SA obtenues par greffage de DiBAH ont des sites acides de Bronsted forts. Des SA représentatives de ces deux séries ont été caractérisées par RMN, avec comme objectif d’étudier la structure des sites acides en utilisant des séquences RMN 1D et 2D, homo- et héteronucléaires impliquant 1H et 27Al. Cette étude a mis en évidence: (i) la présence, pour la plupart des SA, de deux phases, l’une d’alumine, l’autre de silice alumine (27Al DQ-SQ NMR); (ii) une localisation des atomes d’Al près de la surface sur la base de leur flexibilité de coordination 27Al NMR (DP and 3Q MAS); (iii) l’implication possible des AlV (en plus des AlIV) dans les sites acides de Bronsted (27Al-1H D-HMQC 2D NMR); (iv) la probable différence de structure des sites acides des SA par rapport à ceux des zéolithes (1H-27Al REAPDOR). / ASAs with enhanced acidity and a higher fraction of acidic Al were prepared by two experimental strategies. Their textures have been investigated by N2 adsorption–desorption and their acidic properties by FTIR of adsorbed probe molecule (pyridine or CO). Besides, isomerization of 33DMB1 was selected as model reaction to check their activity and characterize their acidity. The first strategy is based on dealumination of commercial ASAs with acetylacetone (Acac) or citric acid (CA). CA is superior to Acac for selective dealumination. It allows removing up to 87% of Al, increases total acidity up to 41%, and fraction of acidic Al by a 5 fold factor. The second strategy is based on the grafting Al precursor (Al(OPri)xL3-x, TIBA, DiBAH) on silica. All the grafted ASAs display better performance for 33DMB1 isomerization than commercial ASA and zeolite, but strong Brønsted acid sites are observed solely for some DiBAH derived samples. Representative samples of these two series were selected as model ASAs for advanced NMR characterization, with the purpose to investigate the structure of acid sites by a combination of one and two-dimensional homo- and heteronuclear 1H and 27Al NMR. On most ASAs, two separate phases are present: alumina and silica-alumina (27Al DQ-SQ NMR). Localization of most of the Al atoms was evidenced based on the flexibility of their coordination (27Al NMR DP and 3Q MAS). Brønsted acidity may be associated with both AlIV and AlV (27Al-1H D-HMQC 2D NMR) but the structure of these sites is probably different from those of zeolites (1H-27Al REAPDOR).

<p> A kinetic and mechanistic study on catalytic decomposition of n- and sec-butyl acetate was carried out. The catalysts were silica-alumina and synthetic zeolites including type A, X, Y and mordenite. The reactions were performed in the temperature region of 140° to 290°C at atmospheric pressure using a fixed-bed flow reactor.</p> <p> The esters decomposed to acetic acid and n-butenes. The isomerization of butenes occurred consecutively. The mechanism of ester decomposition was different from that of pyrolysis. The catalytic activity was effected by acidity, cations and pore size. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate equation corresponding to the surface reaction on dual-sites correlated data satisfactorily. Strong adsorption of acetic acid, crystal collapse and the blocking of pores with organic deposit caused aging of catalysts.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This dissertation describes the preparation of a novel inorganic membrane for hydrogen permeation and its application in a membrane reactor for the study of the methane steam reforming reaction. The investigations include both experimental studies of the membrane permeation mechanism and theoretical modeling of mass transfer through the membrane and simulation of the membrane reactor with 1-D and 2-D models. A hydrothermally stable and hydrogen selective membrane composed of silica and alumina was successfully prepared on a macroporous alumina support by chemical vapor deposition in an inert atmosphere at high temperature. Before the deposition of the silica-alumina composite, multiple graded layers of alumina were coated on the alumina support with a mean pore size of 100 nm by the sequential application of three boehmite sols with gradually decreasing sol particle sizes of 630, 200 and 40 nm, respectively. The resulting supported composite alumina-silica membrane had high permeability for hydrogen in the order of 10-7 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 at 873 K with a H2 /CH4 selectivity of 940 and exhibited much higher stability to water vapor at the high temperature of 873 K. In addition, the same unusual permeance order of Heï¼ H2ï¼ Ne previously observed for the pure silica membrane was also observed for the alumina-silica membrane, indicating that the silica structure did not change much after introduction of the alumina. The permeation of hydrogen and helium through vitreous glass and silica membranes was modeled using ab initio density functional calculations. Comparison of the calculated activation energies to those reported for vitreous glass (20—40 kJ mol -1) indicated the presence of 5- and 6-membered siloxane rings, consistent with the accepted structure of glass as a disordered form of cristobalite. The experimental studies of the steam reforming of methane were examined at various temperatures (773-923 K) and pressures (1-20 atm) with a commercial Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst in a hydrogen selective silica-alumina membrane reactor and compared with a packed bed reactor. One-dimensional and two-dimensional modeling of the membrane rector and the packed bed reactor were performed at the same conditions and their performances were compared with the values obtained in the experimental study. Improved methane conversions and hydrogen yields were obtained in the membrane reactor compared to the packed bed reactor at all temperatures and pressures. From the two modeling studies, it was also found out that the two-dimensional model performed better in the membrane reactor case especially at higher pressures. / Ph. D.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LeopoldoOAR_TESE.pdf: 2477409 bytes, checksum: 8a0937fc273e62c20239012357028d11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-02 / Amorphous silica-alumina and modified by incipient impregnation of iron, nickel, zinc and chromium were synthetized in oxide and metal state and evaluated as catalysts for the chloromethane conversion reaction. With known techniques their textural properties were determined and dynamics techniques in programmed temperature were used to find the acid properties of the materials. A thermodynamic model was used to determine the adsorption and desorption capacity of chloromethane. Two types of reactions were studied. Firstly the chloromethane was catalytically converted to hydrocarbons (T = 300 450 oC e m = 300 mg) in a fixed bed reactor with controlled pressure and flow. Secondly the deactivation of the unmodified support was studied (at 300 ?C and m=250 g) in a micro-adsorver provided of gravimetric monitoring. The metal content (2,5%) and the chloromethane percent of the reagent mixture (10% chloromethane in nitrogen) were fixed for all the tests. From the results the chloromethane conversion and selectivity of the gaseous products (H2, CH4, C3 and C4) were determined as well as the energy of desorption (75,2 KJ/mol for Ni/Al2O3-SiO2 to 684 KJ/mol for the Zn/Al2O3-SiO2 catalyst) considering the desorption rate as a temperature function. The presence of a metal on the support showed to have an important significance in the chloromethane condensation. The oxide class catalyst presented a better performance toward the production of hydrocarbons. Especial mention to the ZnO/Al2O3-SiO2 that, in a gas phase basis, produced C3 83 % max. and C4 63% max., respectively, in the temperature of 450 oC and 20 hours on stream. Hydrogen was produced exclusively in the FeO/Al2O3-SiO2 catalysts (15 % max., T = 550 oC and 5,6 h on stream) and Ni/SiO2-Al2O3 (75 % max., T = 400 oC and 21,6 h on stream). All the catalysts produced methane (10 ? 92 %), except for Ni/Al2O3-SiO2 and CrO/Al2O3-SiO2. In the deactivation study two models were proposed: The parallel model, where the product production competes with coke formation; and the sequential model, where the coke formation competes with the product desorption dessorption step. With the mass balance equations and the mechanism proposed six parameters were determined. Two kinetic parameters: the hydrocarbon formation constant, 8,46 10-4 min-1, the coke formation, 1,46 10-1 min-1; three thermodynamic constants (the global, 0,003, the chloromethane adsorption 0,417 bar-1, the hydrocarbon adsorption 2,266 bar-1), and the activity exponent of the coke formation (1,516). The model was reasonable well fitted and presented a satisfactory behavior in relation with the proposed mechanism / S?lica alumina amorfa e modificada por impregna??o incipiente de precursores de ferro, n?quel, zinco e cromo foram sintetizados na forma de ?xido e reduzidos, tendo sido posteriormente avaliados como catalisadores na convers?o de clorometano em hidrocarbonetos. Propriedades texturais e t?cnicas din?micas em temperatura programada foram usadas para a determina??o das propriedades ?cidas dos materiais. Um modelo termodin?mico para representar a capacidade de adsor??o e dessor??o de clorometano foi avaliado. Dois tipos de rea??es foram abordados. No primeiro, o clorometano foi convertido cataliticamente a hidrocarbonetos (T = 300 450 oC e m = 300 mg) em um reator de leito fixo catal?tico com controle de fluxo, press?o e vaz?o m?ssica e, no segundo, com o suporte puro (T = 300 oC e m = 250 mg) foi estudado a rea??o de desativa??o do catalisador pelo coque em um micro adsorvedor com monitoramento gravim?trico. O teor de metal no suporte (2,5 %) e o percentual de clorometano na mistura (10 %) foram mantidos constantes durante os experimentos. Com os resultados obtidos foram avaliadas a convers?o e a seletividade dos produtos gasosos, ou seja, H2, CH4, C3 e C4 bem como a energia da etapa de dessor??o (75,2 KJ/mol para o Ni/Al2O3-SiO2 e 684 KJ/mol para o catalisador Zn/Al2O3-SiO2), considerando a taxa de adsor??o do g?s em fun??o da temperatura. A presen?a do metal no suporte mostrou uma import?ncia significativa em termos de atividade na rea??o de condensa??o do clorometano. Os catalisadores na forma de ?xido apresentaram melhor desempenho para obten??o de hidrocarbonetos. ? poss?vel destacar o ZnO/Al2O3-SiO2 que , em termos de constituinte gasoso, produziu apenas C3 (M?x. de 83 %) e C4 (M?x. de 63%), respectivamente, na temperatura de 450 oC e 20 horas de rea??o,. O g?s hidrog?nio foi formado exclusivamente com os catalisadores FeO/Al2O3-SiO2 (M?x. de 15 %, T = 550 oC e tempo de rea??o de 5,6 h) e Ni/SiO2-Al2O3 (M?x. 75 %, T = 400 oC e tempo de rea??o de 21,6 h). Todos os catalisadores produziram o g?s metano (10 ? 92 %), salvo os do tipo Ni/Al2O3- SiO2 e CrO/Al2O3-SiO2. No estudo com o suporte puro foram propostos dois modelos de iii desativa??o, do tipo paralelo, onde a forma??o do produto compete com a forma??o de coque e o sequencial, onde a etapa de dessor??o ? a competidora. Com as equa??es do balan?o de massa baseadas no mecanismo proposto foram determinados duas constantes cin?ticas (a primeira de valor 8,01?10-4 min-1, relacionada ? etapa da forma??o de hidrocarbonetos e a segunda, 1,46?10-1 min-1, ao coque depositado no s?tio do material), tr?s constantes de equil?brio (a global 0,003, relativa ao clorometano 0,417 bar-1, e a de forma??o de hidrocarbonetos 2,266 bar-1) e o do perfil do fator de atividade (1,516). Em termos de ajustes, o modelo representou um comportamento satisfat?rio em rela??o ao mecanismo proposto

La biomasse végétale (source de carbone renouvelable) peut être utilisée pour fabriquer des carburants liquides et produits de base pour la chimie. Ainsi depuis environ une dizaine d'années, se développe le procédé APHDO (Aqueous Phase HydroDeOxygenation) de transformation directe en phase aqueuse de polyols d'origine lignocellulosique (comme le sorbitol) en alcanes valorisables (C5-C6). Ce procédé repose sur une catalyse hétérogène bifonctionnelle métal/acide et fait intervenir des ruptures compétitives de liaisons C-C et C-O. L'objectif de la thèse est de mettre au point des systèmes bimétalliques supportés actifs et sélectifs pour la transformation du sorbitol en hexane. La modification d'un catalyseur de référence Pt/SiO2-Al2O3 par ajout de Re, Ir, Pd, Rh et Ru est effectuée par trois techniques de synthèse : co-imprégnation, imprégnations successives et dépôt par réduction catalytique. Les performances des catalyseurs bimétalliques sont comparées à isoconversion de sorbitol à celles des catalyseurs monométalliques parents pour un test catalytique réalisé en autoclave, avec une solution aqueuse à 10% massique de sorbitol, à 240°C et 60 bar de pression totale sous H2. Les produits se répartissent en phase gaz (CO2, alcanes en C1-C6) et liquide (composés oxygénés). Le sorbitane et l'isosorbide sont majoritairement formés en phase liquide, le dernier étant un intermédiaire clé de la transformation du sorbitol dans cette étude. Les catalyseurs Pt-Ru/SiO2-Al2O3 s'avèrent les plus sélectifs pour la réaction, celui préparé par imprégnations successives conduisant à une plus forte proportion de C6 en phase gaz comparé aux deux monométalliques Pt/SiO2-Al2O3 et Ru/SiO2-Al2O3. / Plant Biomass (renewable source of carbon) can be used to make liquid fuels and basic products of chemistry. So, from about ten years, the APHDO (Aqueous Phase HydroDeOxygenation) process is developed for the direct transformation in aqueous phase of polyols from Biomass (such as sorbitol) into renewable alkanes (C5-C6). This process involves a metal/acid bifunctional heterogeneous catalysis and competitive C-O and C-C bond cleavages. The aim of the PhD work is to develop supported bimetallic systems active and selective for the transformation of sorbitol into hexane. The modification of a reference Pt/SiO2-Al2O3 catalyst by addition of Re, Ir, Pd, Rh and Ru is carried out by three synthesis methods: co-impregnation, successive impregnations and deposit by catalytic reduction. The performances of bimetallic catalysts are compared at sorbitol isoconversion to those of the parent monometallic catalysts for a catalytic test carried out in an autoclave with an aqueous solution of sorbitol (10 wt%) at 240°C and 60 bar total pressure under dihydrogen. The products are distributed in the gas phase (CO2, C1-C6 alkanes) and in the liquid phase (oxygenated compounds). Sorbitan and isosorbide are predominantly formed in the liquid phase, the latter being a key intermediate of sorbitol transformation in this study. Pt-Ru/SiO2-Al2O3 catalysts are the most selective for the reaction, the one prepared by successive impregnations leads to a higher proportion of C6 in gaseous phase compared to both monometallic Pt/SiO2-Al2O3 and Ru/SiO2-Al2O3 catalysts.

[pt] Os catalisadores de platina, níquel e platina suportados em sílica-alumina e sílica mesoporosa (SBA-15) foram investigados para o hidrotratamento do óleo de coco para produção de bio-óleo. Os suportes foram carregados com 1 por cento de Pt e 5 por cento de Ni e os catalisadores resultantes foram caracterizados para determinar suas propriedades estruturais e de textura. Os catalisadores foram reduzidos e testados em um reator semi-descontínuo a 360 C sob 10 MPa de hidrogênio durante 4 horas. Foram obtidos 30-40 por cento de remoção de oxigênio. As curvas de destilação dos produtos e seu ponto de inflamação e gravidade específica (a 20 C) foram determinados pelos métodos oficiais ASTM e ABNT/NBR a serem comparados com o diesel derivado do petróleo. As curvas de destilação e as propriedades físico-químicas foram muito próximas das especificações estabelecidas pela legislação brasileira para o diesel comercial. Destilou-se 90 por cento do volume de cada produto na faixa de temperatura de 180-370 C, o ponto de inflamação ficou entre 76-81 e o número do índice de cetano foi calculado como 47-48, de acordo com as especificações do diesel comercial. Os produtos obtidos com os catalisadores Pt/SiO2Al2O3 e PtNi/SBA-15 também apresentaram gravidade específica dentro da faixa de especificação (865 e 860,0 kg/m3, respectivamente). Os catalisadores utilizados mostraram sua potencial aplicação para a produção de biocombustíveis na faixa de diesel de petróleo pelo processo de hidrotratamento de óleo de coco. / [en] Platinum, platinum nickel and nickel catalysts supported on silicaalumina and mesoporous silica (SBA-15) were investigated for hydrotreating of coconut oil to produce bio oil. The supports were loaded with 1 percent Pt and 5 percent Ni content and the resulted catalysts were caracterized to determine their strutural and textural properties. The catalysts were reduced and tested in a semi-batch reactor at 360 C under 10 MPa of hydrogen during 4 hours. It was obtainned 30-40 percent of oxygen removal. The distillation curves of products and their flash point and specific gravity (at 20 C) were determined by oficials ASTM, and ABNT/NBR methods to be compared with the petroleum-derived diesel. The distillation curves and physicochemical properties were very close to specifications stabilished by Brazilian legislation for comercial diesel. 90 percent of the volume of each product was distilled in the temperature range of 180-370 C, the flash point was between 76-81 and the cetane index number was calculated as 47-48 in agreement with the specifications for comercial diesel. The products obtainned using the Pt/SiO2Al2O3 and PtNi/SBA-15 catalysts also presented specific gravity within the specification range (865 e 860.0 kg/m3 respectively). The catalysts used showed their potential application for the production of biofuels in the petroleum diesel range by coconut oil hydrotreatment process.

[pt] A reação de síntese de Fischer-Tropsch tem despertado interesse pelo seu caráter tecnológico e científico uma vez que este processo é capaz de converter o gás natural em produtos de elevado valor agregado. No presente trabalho, catalisadores de ferro suportados em sílica alumina ou em SBA-15 foram sintetizados, caracterizados, ativados e empregados na síntese de Fischer Tropsch. Os catalisadores foram preparados via impregnação incipiente do ponto úmido utilizando cloreto de ferro III, obtendo-se catalisadores de porcentagem mássica próximos a 5%, 10% e, no caso da sílica alumina, 2% também. As amostras foram caracterizadas por análise termogravimétrica (ATG), por medidas de adsorção física de N2, difração de raios-X (DRX) e redução à temperatura programada (RTP). O teor de ferro foi determinado pela espectroscopia de raios X por dispersão de energia (EDX). A ativação dos catalisadores e, em seguida, os testes catalíticos foram conduzidos em um reator tubular de bancada e os produtos gasosos foram analisados através de cromatografia gasosa com detector por ionização de chama (CG-DIC), cuja análise mostrou a formação de hidrocarbonetos C1-C5. A adsorção física de N2 revelou que, a introdução de ferro nos suportes, diminuiu a área superficial específica e o volume de poro dos materiais. A difração de raios X foi realizada para os catalisadores após a calcinação, mostrando a presença das fases α-Fe2O3 e Fe3O4; após a ativação e após a reação, onde se encontrou Fe0 e carbetos de ferro Fe5C2 e Fe2C. Os testes catalíticos mostraram maior seletividade aos hidrocarbonetos C2-3 para os catalisadores suportados em SBA-15. / [en] The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction has showed interest due to its technological and scientific character since the process is able to convert natural gas into high added value products. In the present work, iron catalysts supported on SBA-15 or silica doped alumina were synthesized, characterized, activated and employed in the Fischer Tropsch synthesis. The catalysts were prepared via incipient wetness impregnation method using iron III chloride, obtaining catalysts with a weight percentage of about 5%, 10% and, in the case of silica doped alumina, 20% as well. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (ATG), with measurements of N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (DRX) and temperature programmed reduction (RTP). Iron content was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The catalysts activation and, subsequently, their catalytic tests were conducted in a bench tubular reactor and the products were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (CG-DIC), where it was detected the formation of C1-C4 hydrocarbons. The N2 physisorption showed that the introduction iron in the supports decreased the specific surface area and the pore volume of the materials. X-ray diffraction was performed for catalysts after calcination, showing the presence of α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 phases, after activation and after reaction, where it was found crystals of Fe0 and iron carbides Fe5C2 and Fe2C. The catalytic tests showed greater C2-3 selectivity for SBA-15 supported catalysts.

L'hydrotraitement est un procédé catalytique important dans le raffinage du pétrole qui utilise des catalyseurs bimétalliques sulfurés NiWS ou NiMoS (ou CoMoS) supportés sur alumine. Leur mode conventionnel de préparation implique l’imprégnation d'une solution aqueuse de sels de Mo/W et de Ni/Co, puis l’activation par un agent sulfo-réducteur (H2S/H2). Pour répondre aux exigences environnementales et améliorer l'efficacité de l'hydrotraitement, des améliorations permanentes de la performance de ces systèmes catalytiques sont attendues. Ce travail se concentre sur la préparation de catalyseurs d'hydrotraitement hautement actifs par une approche de chimie de surface contrôlée (CSC) qui implique l'imprégnation successive de précurseurs moléculaires de MoV et NiII en solvant organique sur un support silice-alumine traité thermiquement. Dans la première partie de cette thèse, la genèse de la phase active du catalyseur CSC et conventionnel Mo et NiMo est étudiée par quick-XAS combinée à d’autres techniques (chimiométrie, XPS, RPE, STEM-HAADF, modélisation moléculaire). Nous proposons ainsi des structures moléculaires depuis les précurseurs oxydes de Mo et Ni supportés jusqu’aux nombreuses espèces intermédiaires (oxysulfure et sulfures) en fonction de la température. Cette analyse multi-technique permet d'abord de révéler les spécificités de la genèse des catalyseurs CSC et conventionnels qui peuvent expliquer leurs différentes activités catalytiques. Ensuite, elle révèle également de nouvelles connaissances sur les mécanismes d’insertion du Ni dans la phase NiMoS en fonction de la préparation. Dans la seconde partie, la possibilité de remplacer Co et Ni comme promoteurs est explorée. Ceci est entrepris en synthétisant des catalyseurs alternatifs de type XYMoS, où X et Y sont des métaux de transition 3d. Comme suggéré par des études de modélisation quantiques antérieures, certaines formulations XYMoS peuvent présenter un effet de synergie analogue à ceux des phases actives CoMoS et NiMoS. L’étude des formulations les plus prometteuses méritent d'être approfondies afin de mieux comprendre leur fonctionnement. / Hydrotreating is an important catalytic process in petroleum refining which uses sulfided bimetallic catalysts NiWS or NiMoS (or CoMoS) supported on alumina. Their conventional preparation involves an incipient wetness impregnation of an aqueous solution of Mo/W and Ni/Co salts, and then activation by a sulfo-reductive agent (such as H2S/H2). To meet environmental regulations and improve the energy efficiency of hydrotreatment, permanent improvements on the performance of these catalytic systems are expected. This work is thus focused on the preparation of highly active hydrotreating catalysts through a controlled surface chemistry (CSC) approach; which involves the successive impregnation of Mo5+ and Ni2+ molecular precursors in an organic solvent on a thermally treated silica-alumina support. In the first part of this thesis, the active phase genesis of CSC and conventional Mo and NiMo catalysts is studied by in situ quick-XAS combined with various other techniques (chemometrics, XPS, EPR, STEM-HAADF, molecular modeling). We thus propose molecular structures from the oxide of supported Mo and Ni precursors up to the numerous intermediate sulfided species as a function of temperature. This multi-technique analysis enables first to reveal the specific features of the genesis of CSC and conventional catalysts which may explain their different catalytic activities. Then, it also reveals new insights into the mechanisms of Ni promoter incorporation into the NiMoS phase as a function of the preparation. In the second part, the feasibility of replacing Co and Ni as promoters is explored. Using the CSC method, we attempted to synthesize alternative catalysts of the form XYMoS ternary sulfides, where X and Y are 3d transition metals. As suggested by previous quantum simulations, certain XY formulations possibly reveal a synergy effect as observed in CoMoS and NiMoS active phases. The most promising formulations merit further investigations.

Coal refuse and combustion byproducts as industrial solid waste stockpiles have become great threats to the environment. Recycling is one practical solution to utilize this huge amount of solid waste through activation as substitute for ordinary Portland cement. The central goal of this dissertation is to investigate and develop a new silica-alumina based cementitious material largely using coal refuse as a constituent that will be ideal for durable construction, mine backfill, mine sealing and waste disposal stabilization applications. This new material is an environment-friendly alternative to ordinary Portland cement. The main constituents of the new material are coal refuse and other coal wastes including coal sludge and coal combustion products (CCPs). Compared with conventional cement production, successful development of this new technology could potentially save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, recycle vast amount of coal wastes, and significantly reduce production cost. A systematic research has been conducted to seek for an optimal solution for enhancing pozzolanic reactivity of the relatively inert solid waste-coal refuse in order to improve the utilization efficiency and economy benefit for construction and building materials. The results show that thermal activation temperature ranging from 20°C to 950°C significantly increases the workability and pozzolanic property of the coal refuse. The optimal activation condition is between 700°C to 800°C within a period of 30 to 60 minutes. Microanalysis illustrates that the improved pozzolanic reactivity contributes to the generated amorphous materials from parts of inert aluminosilicate minerals by destroying the crystallize structure during the thermal activation. In the coal refuse, kaolinite begins to transfer into metakaol in at 550°C, the chlorite minerals disappear at 750°C, and muscovite 2M 1 gradually dehydroxylates to muscovite HT. Furthermore, this research examines the environmental acceptance and economic feasibility of this technology and found that this silica alumina-based cementitious material not only meets EPA requirements but also shows several advantages in industrial application.