Phosphorus-doped activated carbon catalyst for n-hexane dehydroaromatization reaction

Abstract Phosphorus-doped activated carbon (P@AC), prepared by wet impregnation method, can serve as efficient metal-free catalyst for the dehydroaromatization of n-hexane to benzene under mild conditions. The effect of phosphorus amount and phosphorus sources including phenylphosphonic acid (PPOA), phosphorus acid (H3PO4), triphenylphosphine (TPP), and tributylphosphine (TBP) on catalytic performance of P@AC were investigated. Combining with characterization analysis, functional groups containing -P(O)(OH) on the carbon surface are believed to be the active sites for dehydroaromatization catalysis.