Study of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with CO2 on supported CeO2-Fe2O3 binary oxides

Nano-sheets Al2O3 supported CeO2-Fe2O3 binary oxides were prepared by the vacuum impregnation method. The structural and textural properties were characterized by pertinent techniques, and the materials were evaluated as catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with carbon dioxide (CO2-ODEB). The characterization results show that all samples maintain the hierarchical structure, and CeO2-like and Fe2O3-like solid solutions were formed when changing the Ce-to-Fe molar ratio. The catalytic performances indicate that CeO2-Fe2O3 binary oxides were effective for CO2-ODEB, and the activity is determined by mobile oxygen, which can facilitate the dehydrogenation process. The DFT studies further identified the reaction pathway and rate-determining step. The inter-transmission of oxygen species and the presence of CO2 refill the oxygen vacancies and restore the redox cycle of CeO2-Fe2O3 binary oxides. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.