The exothermic oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes to generate olefins has the potential to be a disruptive technology in the chemical industry. This process improves on process inefficiencies of non-oxidative dehydrogenation methods or steam cracking technologies predominantly used today. Despite decades of research on metal oxide catalyst systems, however, selectivity towards the desired olefin product remains low at industrially attractive conversions. As such, new catalyst systems need to minimize undesired combustion side reactions under ODH conditions.<br/>Over the last years, we have developed boron-based materials such as hexagonal boron nitride as a new class of ODH catalysts. These materials offer improved selectivity towards propylene during the ODH of propane and show decreased yields of combustion side products. While spectroscopic characterization has identified BO<sub>3</sub>-type surface structures as possible active sites, significant questions remain on the reaction mechanism that affords the unique selectivity properties of boron-based catalysts. In this work, we present reactivity studies investigating the role of gas phase chemistry during boron nitride-catalyzed ODH of propane. Our results suggest that surface-initiated gas phase reactions, such as those proposed for oxidative methane coupling chemistry, may also be important during ODH. Furthermore, this work also highlights the role of water, formed during the reaction, in modulating the reactivity of boron nitride catalysts. These investigations provide new parameters relevant for the design of future ODH processes.<br/>

Investigating the interaction of surface and gas-phase chemistry on the boron nitride-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

2019 Spring National Meeting

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