Preparation of N‐Doped Activated Carbon for Catalytic Pyrolysis of 1‐Chloro‐1,1‐difluoroethane to Vinylidene Fluoride

N‐doped activated carbons were prepared by calcining the mixture of activated carbon and melamine at 700  o C for 4 h. Then they were evaluated as the catalysts for the pyrolysis of 1‐chloro‐1,1‐difluoroethane (HCFC‐142b) to vinylidene fluoride (VDF). Reactions were carried out under 350  o C and space velocity of 600 h −1 . Doping of N into the activated carbon increases the conversion of HCFC‐142b significantly. Compared with the temperatures of industrial manufacture for VDF at 600∼700  o C, N‐doped activated carbon reduces the reaction temperature significantly (350  o C). It is suggested that pyridinic N and pyrrolic N are responsible for the dehydrochlorination of HCFC‐142b. The N‐doped activated carbon catalyst provides a promising pathway to produce VDF through a low‐temperature and energy‐saving process via catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1‐chloro‐1,1‐difluoroethane.