Premium
Synthesis of Porous Fe 3 C‐Based Composite Beads as Heterogeneous Oxidation Catalysts
Author(s) -
Wang Zhe,
Jiang Yanqiu,
Li Yudong,
Huo Hang,
Zhao Tingting,
Li Defeng,
Lin Kaifeng,
Xu Xianzhu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201805936
Subject(s) - catalysis , materials science , chemical engineering , thermogravimetric analysis , composite number , pyrolysis , carbon fibers , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
A series of multiscale cementite/iron/porous carbon (CIPC‐T) composites with extremely low nitrogen content and millimeter‐size spherical morphology were prepared by simple carbothermal pyrolysis of resin spheres exchanged with ferric oxalate anions. CIPC‐T materials are composed of highly disperse core–shell‐structured Fe 3 C/Fe@graphitic carbon (CI@GC) nanoparticles embedded in a porous amorphous carbon framework. A mechanism for the formation of the composites is proposed on the basis of the results of XRD, SEM, TEM, and thermogravimetric analysis. The Fe 3 C content can be easily controlled just by using different carbothermal temperatures. The CIPC‐T materials proved to be active as heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone and Fenton‐like oxidation of methylene blue. For the first time, the role of Fe 3 C in catalytic oxidation was confirmed. The spherical morphology of the composites and magnetic property facilitate separation of the catalyst from the reaction solution. More importantly, no leaching of iron active sites occurs during the reactions and the catalyst can be reused in continuous runs without obvious loss of activity. Such high stability of iron sites in the composites is ascribed to the protecting outer graphitic carbon shell of CI@GC.