Influence of N addition in mesoporous carbons used as supports of Pt, Pd and Ru for toluene hydrogenation and iron oxide for benzene oxidation

• DOI: 10.1007/s11144-015-0843-2
• Publication Date: 2015-02-11T06:57:56Z
• Authors: Jingxuan Cai; Simona Bennici; Jianyi Shen; Aline Auroux
• Keywords: Temperature-programmed reduction; Carbon fibers

Two catalysts series, one with precious metals (Pt, Pd and Ru) and the other with Fe oxide supported on three kinds of mesoporous carbon materials (MC: mesoporous carbon, N-MC: N-containing MC, C3N4-MC: MC with supported carbon nitride) were prepared by an impregnation method. They were characterized by low-temperature adsorption/desorption isotherms of nitrogen, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron micrograph, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and H2-temperature programmed reduction. The results indicate that a better metal dispersion and a higher reducibility can be found on N-containing catalysts. Precious metal catalysts were applied in toluene hydrogenation, while iron oxide catalysts were applied in benzene oxidation to phenol. The results show that the presence of N in the MC support leads to an important increase in toluene conversion using Ru catalysts at 373 K. On the contrary, N introduction created a negative effect in benzene oxidation to phenol on supported iron catalysts.