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Europium Oxybromide Catalysts for Efficient Bromine Looping in Natural Gas Valorization
Author(s) -
Paunović Vladimir,
Lin Ronghe,
Scharfe Matthias,
Amrute Amol P.,
Mitchell Sharon,
Hauert Roland,
PérezRamírez Javier
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201704406
Subject(s) - bromine , europium , catalysis , halogen , bromide , chemistry , selectivity , methane , hydrogen bromide , phase (matter) , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , ion , alkyl , engineering
The industrialization of bromine‐mediated natural gas upgrading is contingent on the ability to fully recycle hydrogen bromide (HBr), which is the end form of the halogen after the activation and coupling of the alkanes. Europium oxybromide (EuOBr) is introduced as a unique catalytic material to close the bromine loop via HBr oxidation, permitting low‐temperature operation and long lifetimes with a stoichiometric feed (O 2 :HBr=0.25)—conditions at which any catalyst reported to date severely deactivates because of excessive bromination. Besides, EuOBr exhibits unparalleled selectivity to methyl bromide in methane oxybromination, which is an alternative route for bromine looping. This novel active phase is finely dispersed on appropriate carriers and scaled up to technical extrudates, enhancing the utilization of the europium phase while preserving the performance. This catalytic system paves the way for sustainable valorization of stranded natural gas via bromine chemistry.