Pd/AlF3 catalysts for catalytic dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane

A series of Pd/AlF3 catalysts was prepared by an impregnation method and tested for vapor-phase dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane(HFC-245fa) to synthesize 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene(HFO-1234ze). The highest activity was obtained over Pd/AlF3 catalyst containing 1.0%(mass fraction) of Pd, with an HFC-245fa conversion of 79.5% and an HFO-1234ze selectivity of 99.4% after the reaction at 300 °C for 100 h. The reactivity was related to the surface acidity, as AlF3 provided active sites for the reaction. With the addition of Pd, the catalyst stability could be significantly improved. Raman spectroscopic and thermal-gravimetric analysis results reveal that there was less carbon deposit on spent Pd/AlF3 catalyst surface because Pd could effectively pyrolyse it. Thus, Pd/AlF3 catalysts were bi-functional for dehydrofluorination of HFC-245fa.