Carbide-Derived Carbons as Metal-Free Catalysts for the Direct Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene

摘要

Nowadays styrene is produced to about 85 % by steam-assisted direct dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene (DDH) over a multi-promoted iron oxide catalyst [1]. Recently, nanocarbons have attracted attention as non-metal dehydrogenation catalyst under oxidant- and steam-free conditions [2]. However, nanocarbon synthesis generally yields fine powder-like agglomerates that may hamper the industrial processability. Thus, alternative carbonaceous materials combining a good catalytic activity with a good handling are required. Carbide-derived carbon (CDC) could be a material of choice as it can be tuned for its structure on the nanolevel in a great variety and be produced in nearly arbitrary macroscopic shape, like e.g. bulk powders, foams or monoliths.