Oxidation of Sulfurated Polyacrylonitrile-derived Nanostructured Activated Carbon Fibers for Thermal Resistant and Multifunctional Solid Acids

The production of propylene by dehydration of 2-propanol at solid-vapor interfaces, as an example of the acid-catalyzed surface reaction, was explored by using sulfonated polyacrylonitrile-derived activated carbon fibers (PAN-ACFs). To prepare these catalysts, the PAN-ACFs obtained by one-step carbonation-activation were modified with a surface coverage of high acidity. The surface of PAN-ACFs was sulfurated with sulfur vapors at high temperatures followed by oxidation, to yield the corresponding sulfonates. The chemical analysis showed that the carbon surface layer contains from 1.28 to 6.10 mmol g
^-1
of sulfur, including the contribution of sulfonic (SO
₃
H) groups. In addition to sulfonic groups, the obtained catalysts contain carboxyl, lactone, and phenolic groups, which are formed as a result of oxidation treatment. In order to understand the changes in surface chemistry and the results of sulfuration and oxidation, the sulfonated PAN-ACFs were characterized by a variety of techniques including TPD MS, TGA, SEM, and FTIR ATR. During a typical temperature mode screening at catalyst testing, it was found that the sulfonated PAN-ACFs prepared by treatment with sulfur vapor at low temperature, at 400 °C and 500 °C, are very efficient at dehydrating 2-propanol. A weighed mass of 100 mg of each of these catalysts was operated at 165-175 °C in 12 hours, and the catalysts were characterized by high conversion of 2-propanol and high selectivity to propylene, with a propylene yield of about 100%. Furthermore, the solid acid catalysts have high stability and strong acidity and can be reused with no significant loss in the activity after the third cycle in the subsequent 20 cycles. The preparation of solid acid catalysts from PAN-ACFs affords a novel strategy for producing propylene through alternative green and sustainable technologies.