US EPA

5068520 

Journal Article 

Synthesis of Porous Fe3 C-Based Composite Beads as Heterogeneous Oxidation Catalysts 

Wang, Z; Jiang, Y; Li, Y; Huo, H; Zhao, T; Li, D; Lin, K; Xu, X 

2019 

Yes 

Chemistry: A European Journal
ISSN: 0947-6539
EISSN: 1521-3765 

25 

16 

4175-4183 

English 

30620445 

10.1002/chem.201805936 

A series of multiscale cementite/iron/porous carbon (CIPC-T) composites with extremely low nitrogen content and millimeter-size spherical morphology were prepared by simple carbothermal pyrolysis of resin spheres exchanged with ferric oxalate anions. CIPC-T materials are composed of highly disperse core-shell-structured Fe3 C/Fe@graphitic carbon (CI@GC) nanoparticles embedded in a porous amorphous carbon framework. A mechanism for the formation of the composites is proposed on the basis of the results of XRD, SEM, TEM, and thermogravimetric analysis. The Fe3 C content can be easily controlled just by using different carbothermal temperatures. The CIPC-T materials proved to be active as heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone and Fenton-like oxidation of methylene blue. For the first time, the role of Fe3 C in catalytic oxidation was confirmed. The spherical morphology of the composites and magnetic property facilitate separation of the catalyst from the reaction solution. More importantly, no leaching of iron active sites occurs during the reactions and the catalyst can be reused in continuous runs without obvious loss of activity. Such high stability of iron sites in the composites is ascribed to the protecting outer graphitic carbon shell of CI@GC.