The influence of protic acid regulation of activated carbon on the performance of zinc catalysts in the acetylene acetoxylation

Abstract

Heteroatom-doped carbon-based materials are acknowledged as a promising approach to enhance catalytic activity through modifications to their electronic structure and chemical characteristics. In this study, phosphorus-doped activated carbon (PAC)-supported zinc catalysts, rich in Lewis acid sites for acetylene acetoxylation, were synthesized using a cost-effective and sustainable method. Characterization showed P-doping reduces electron density around zinc, facilitating electron transfer from acetic acid to zinc and enhancing its adsorption. The electronegativity difference between phosphorus and carbon generates weak and Lewis acid sites, significantly boosting catalytic performance. PAC doping enhanced resistance to carbon deposits and slowed zinc loss, thereby improving catalyst stability and activity. The optimized Zn/0.01PAC catalyst achieved 80% conversion of acetic acid, demonstrating the critical role of Lewis acid sites. This work provides an efficient solid acid catalyst and establishes a universal strategy for precisely tuning activated carbon surface acidity, advancing industrial application prospects.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Zn-based catalyst / P-doping / acid sites / acetylation of acetylene / industrial catalysis

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