TY - JOUR

T1 - Graphitization of alumina as a way to stabilize its textural characteristics under hydrothermal conditions

AU - Kazakova, Mariya A.

AU - Selyutin, Alexander G.

AU - Parfenov, Mikhail V.

AU - Ishchenko, Arcady V.

AU - Kazakov, Maxim O.

N1 - Funding Information: The study was funded by Russian Science Foundation according to the research project № 21-73-10039. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - Gamma alumina is a widely used support for catalysts of various processes. However, in the case of aqueous-phase processes, hydrothermal conditions result in transformation of γ-Al2O3 to boehmite, which is accompanied by degradation of the porous structure and leads to rapid catalyst deactivation. Here, we demonstrate a simple approach to stabilize the textural characteristics of γ-Al2O3 under hydrothermal conditions, based on preliminary graphitization of its surface by chemical vapor deposition of ethylene. Different duration (5–240 min) revealed the optimal degree of alumina surface coverage with carbon, ensuring the preservation of its textural characteristics from collapse during hydrothermal treatment (HTT) at 200 °C. Materials characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption, and Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that initial γ-Al2O3 during HTT transforms into boehmite with a dramatic decrease in the surface area from 217 to 42 m2/g. Whereas the preliminary graphitization of its surface maintains high surface area of the material after HTT, which is achieved by forming a C@boehmite composite (294 m2/g). The presented approach makes it possible to modify the surface of alumina supports with a layer of graphite-like carbon and can be used to improve or maintain the catalysts activity.

AB - Gamma alumina is a widely used support for catalysts of various processes. However, in the case of aqueous-phase processes, hydrothermal conditions result in transformation of γ-Al2O3 to boehmite, which is accompanied by degradation of the porous structure and leads to rapid catalyst deactivation. Here, we demonstrate a simple approach to stabilize the textural characteristics of γ-Al2O3 under hydrothermal conditions, based on preliminary graphitization of its surface by chemical vapor deposition of ethylene. Different duration (5–240 min) revealed the optimal degree of alumina surface coverage with carbon, ensuring the preservation of its textural characteristics from collapse during hydrothermal treatment (HTT) at 200 °C. Materials characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption, and Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that initial γ-Al2O3 during HTT transforms into boehmite with a dramatic decrease in the surface area from 217 to 42 m2/g. Whereas the preliminary graphitization of its surface maintains high surface area of the material after HTT, which is achieved by forming a C@boehmite composite (294 m2/g). The presented approach makes it possible to modify the surface of alumina supports with a layer of graphite-like carbon and can be used to improve or maintain the catalysts activity.

KW - Alumina

KW - Carbon deposition

KW - Composite

KW - Hydrothermal treatment

KW - Mesoporous support

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132430923&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.micromeso.2022.112038

DO - 10.1016/j.micromeso.2022.112038

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85132430923

VL - 341

JO - Microporous and Mesoporous Materials

JF - Microporous and Mesoporous Materials

SN - 1387-1811

M1 - 112038

ER -