Pt and Ni Nanoparticles Anchored into Metal–Organic Frameworks MIL-101 (Cr) as Swift Catalysts for Ethanol Dehydration

Abstract

In this study, Pt and Ni nanoparticles were anchored into the metal–organic-framework MIL-101 (Cr), by using rotary chemical evaporation method in the in-situ reduction step. Neat MIL-101 (Cr) as well as Pt/MIL-101 and Ni/MIL-101 were characterized through XRD, FT-IR, DSC/TGA, N2 physisorption and TEM techniques. The catalytic performances of various catalyst samples were assessed in ethanol conversion using the micro catalytic pulse-flow technique at different operating conditions. The MIL-101, as a member of Cr-MOFs, was revealed as cubo-octahedral crystalline particles of uniform sizes (~212 nm). It exhibited high surface area (2100 m2 g−1) of narrower pore radii (<2 nm) and distinguished thermal stability at temperatures ≤400 °C. In catalytic conversion of ethanol, the neat Mil-101 displayed some activity toward dehydration reaction, yielding 26 % ethylene at 300 °C. The 5 Ni/Mil-101 catalyst sample acquired distinctive high activity and selectivity toward ethylene, with a 60 % yield. However, the 0.9 Pt/Mil-101 sample produced 46 % ethylene, showing only 11 % acetaldehyde at the same reaction conditions. The results obtained in the present study are considered as novel and promising ones for ethanol dehydration. Pt and Ni nanoparticles were anchored on metal–organic-framework MIL-101 (Cr) via rotary chemical evaporation (RCE) method in the in-situ reduction step. MIL-101 (Cr), Pt/MIL-101 and Ni/MIL-101 were characterized through XRD, FT-IR, DSC/TGA, N2 physisorption and TEM. It displayed cubo-octahedral crystalline particles of uniform sizes (~212 nm).