Fabrication of Pt-Loaded Catalysts Supported on the Functionalized Pyrolytic Activated Carbon Derived from Waste Tires for the High Performance Dehydrogenation of Methylcyclohexane and Hydrogen Production

Abstract

The pyrolytic activated carbon derived from waste tires (PTC) was functionalized to fabricate the high performance of Pt-based catalysts in the dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane and hydrogen production. Structural characterizations evidenced that the modification partially influenced the surface area, the pore structure, and the oxygen-containing functional groups of the supports. The techniques of CO pulse, transmission electron microscopy, and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction were utilized to investigate the dispersion degrees and particle sizes of the active component Pt, and its interaction with the various functionalized supports, respectively. The results manifested that Pt particles loaded on the functionalized PTC-S had the largest dispersion degree and the smallest size among those loaded on PTC and other functionalized PTC (i.e., PTC-K and PTC-NH). Finally, the Pt-based catalysts were successfully applied in the dehydrogenation reaction of methylcyclohexane to yield hydrogen. The results revealed that the Pt catalyst over the functional PTC-S support exhibited a more excellent conversion of methylcyclohexane (84.3%) and a higher hydrogen evolution rate (991.5 mmol/gPt/min) than the other resulting Pt-based catalysts.