Research background
Fabrication of carbon based catalysts
Mercury free catalysts for vinyl chloride synthesis
― SiC@N-C composite catalysts
Acetylene hydrochlorination is an important coal based technology for industrial production of vinyl chloride, the monomer of poly-vinyl chloride (PVC). However, this process is notorious because of the toxic HgCl2 catalyst.
SiC@N-C shows potentials substituting HgCl2 for vinyl chloride synthesis from acetylene, giving stable performance in a 150 h test with conversion 80%, selectivity over 98% at 200 ºC.
The carbon atoms bonded with pyrrolic N species are likely the active sites.
It provides guidance for designing of metal-free catalysts for activation of other alkynes.
J. Mater. Chem. 22 (2012) 14155-14159; Chin. J. Catal.34(2013)257-262;
Nature Commun., 5 (2014) 3688; Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 210 (2017) 116–120.