Effect of TMB/P123 ratios on physicochemical properties of mesocellular foam carbon (MCF-C) as catalyst for ethanol dehydrogenation

The preparation of mesocellular foam carbon catalysts with different ratios of 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene (TMB)/P123 is represented for investigation in catalytic activity via ethanol dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde. The TMB was used as a swelling agent and P123 acted as template-structuring. The physicochemical properties of synthesized catalysts were determined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD), and carbon dioxide temperature-programmed desorption (CO₂-TPD). The evidence suggested that various ratios of TMB/P123 can differently control the mesostructure including the pore size, specific surface area, and pore volume. Particularly, MCF-C 3.5 catalyst (TMB/P123 of 3.5) enhanced the catalytic via ethanol dehydrogenation. Interestingly, effectively controllable pore structure of catalysts is beneficial for the desorption of selective product such as acetaldehyde leading to remarkably increased yield of acetaldehyde. Furthermore, the MCF-C 3.5 evidently exhibited outstanding stability at temperature of 400 °C for 12 h. Thus, it can be reasonably selected the ratio of TMB/P123 as 3.5, which is dominantly facilitated either high diffusion of reactant or high stability without losing of the traditional structure compared with other ratios of TMB/P123.