Synthesis and characteristics of mesoporous carbon catalysts via sulfonation process from surfactant residue and their catalytic properties toward gas-phase ethanol dehydrogenation

Abstract

BackgroundThe several mesoporous materials are captive for applying in the different catalytic application due to its unique characteristics, which directly affected to the different selectivity of catalytic activity. This research aims to consider the possibility of the synthesis, characteristics, and catalytic activity of the different mesoporous carbon materials (SBA-15-C, MCF-C, KIT-6-C, and TMS-C) derived from the corresponding mesoporous silica materials (SBA-15, MCF, KIT-6, and TMS). MethodsMesoporous silica-based materials such as SBA-15, TMS, MCF, and KIT-6 were straightly synthesized and transformed as silica-based materials to mesoporous carbon-based materials denoted as SBA-15/C, TMS/C, MCF/C, and KIT-6/C using the surfactant residue with sulfuric acid as sulfonation process in order to enhance the physicochemical properties. In addition, these carbon catalysts were compared up on characteristics and catalytic performance towards ethanol dehydrogenation to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde. Significant findingsIt revealed that these mesoporous silica-based materials were successfully converted to the promising mesoporous carbon-based materials having appropriate physicochemical properties including acid-base properties owing to the significant existence of the carbon source. The MCF/C exhibited remarkable catalytic activity than any other carbon materials on ethanol dehydrogenation. Moreover, MCF/C is also stable toward ethanol dehydrogenation along the extensive time of the operation with behavioral recyclability. Thus, MCF/C is captivating as a potential catalyst for ethanol dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde owing to the appropriate physicochemical characteristic of the well-defined mesoporous carbon catalyst