Highly Selective Conversion of Isopropanol to Propene Over CeFeO3/Spherical Silica Nanocomposite

Abstract

Cerium iron mixed oxide (CFO) nanocomposite materials supported on spherical silica particles were explored for gas phase dehydration of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The samples were formed by a sol-gel process. Utilization of silica as a matrix for reducible CeO2-Fe2O3 mixed oxides formation of thermally stabilized textural CeO2-Fe2O3 /silica nanocomposite materials, Thus, a series of 10-30% (w/w) CFO/silica was directly formed, dried, and calcined at 550oC. XRD, TG-DTA, ATR-FTIR, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and TEM images were used to analyze the samples. The catalytic performance of materials has been estimated. The catalytic activity of the catalytic materials was evaluated to measure the dehydration reaction of IPA at 250 oC in the air atmosphere. According to the results, 20% CeFeO3/silica calcined at 550oC exhibits a high conversion of IPA amounts to ~89% with selectivity (100%) for propene, as well as a high rate of propene production (7.9 m mol.h-1). The higher catalytic activity of the supported catalyst was related to its improved textural and thermal stability, based on these results, propene is efficiently produced.