Catalytic activities of binary metal oxides containing iron for hydrocracking of benzyl phenyl ether and diphenyl ether

Abstract

Hydrocracking of benzyl phenyl ether and diphenyl ether has been carried out over a series of iron catalysts (Fe 2O 3, Fe 2O 3Al 2O 3, Fe 2O 3ZnO, Fe 2O 3ZrO 2, Fe 2O 3MgO and Fe 2O 3SiO 2) and reference catalysts ( CoOMoO 3 Al 2O 3 , NiOMoO 3 Al 2O 3 and SiO _Al 2O 3) to search for active and selective catalysts, and to elucidate the catalyst properties of relevance for CO bond cleavage. Among the iron catalysts, Fe 2O 3ZnO, Fe 2O 3ZrO 2 and Fe 2O 3MgO exhibited relatively high activities and selectivities. The important property of catalysts relevant to hydrocracking of the ethers is the ability to accomplish hydrogenation. Acidic properties of the catalysts cause condensation and rearrangement of the reactants. The features of the iron catalysts are compared with those of molybdenum catalysts, and the reaction mechanisms discussed.