Solution Combustion Synthesis of Cr2O3 Nanoparticles and the Catalytic Performance for Dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluoropropane to 1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene

Abstract

Cr2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) with chromium nitrate as the precursor and glycine as the fuel. Commercial Cr2O3 and Cr2O3 prepared by a precipitation method were also included for comparison. The morphology, structure, acidity and particle size of fresh and spent Cr2O3 catalysts were investigated by techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, BET and NH3-TPD. In addition, catalytic performance was evaluated for the dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (CF3CH2CHF2, HFC-245fa) to 1,3,3,3-tetra-fluoropropene (CF3CH=CHF, HFO-1234ze). The catalytic reaction rate of Cr2O3 prepared by SCS method is as high as 6 mmol/h/g, which is about 1.5 times and 2 times higher than that of precipitated Cr2O3 and commercial Cr2O3, respectively. The selectivity to HFO-1234ze for all the catalysts maintains at about 80%. Compared with commercial and precipitated Cr2O3, Cr2O3-SCS prepared by SCS possesses higher specific surface area and acid amount. Furthermore, significant change in the crystal size of Cr2O3 prepared by SCS after reaction was not detected, indicating high resistance to sintering.