Shape selective catalysis using nanoporous carbon-based catalyst was studied using poly(furfuryl alcohol)-derived carbon spheres. The catalyst was synthesized by dispersing platinum nanoparticles in the microstructure of carbon. Emulsion polymerization of furufryl alcohol in the presence of Pluronic F-127 and platinum nanoparticles led to formation of polymeric spheres. The high degree of crosslinking in the polymer spheres' structure which was caused by concentrated acid and heat, inhibited platinum nanoparticles from movement and agglomeration. Pyrolysis at 800�C led to monodispersed nanoporous carbon spheres with sizes ranging from 50 nm to few microns, within which are embedded well dispersed platinum nanoparticles. The synthesized catalyst was used in shape selective liquid phase hydrogenation of different alkenes and showed very high selectivity and moderate activity. Catalyst showed higher activity for shorter and linear alkenes compared to longer and branched ones. To optimize mass transfer limitation and improve catalyst activity, different approaches were applied. Size of the carbon spheres (diffusion length), porosity and pore size were controlled by changing the surfactant concentration in the first step polymerization, adding pore forming agents and selective oxidation of the carbon under CO2 at different temperatures, respectively. Catalyst synthesized this way showed much higher effectiveness factor (more than one order of magnitude) compared to as-synthesized catalyst with longer diffusion length and lower porosity. Another important feature of the catalysts synthesized using this approach is their high stability against sintering and deactivation.

Diffusion controlled shape selective catalysis using platinum nanoparticles dispersed within carbon spheres

245th National Meeting (2013)

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