Metal organic framework MIL-101(Cr) for dehydration reactions

Porous chromium terephthalate MIL-101 (Cr-MIL-101) has been prepared by direct method under hydrothermal conditions and characterized using X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, TGA and FT-IR. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm shows that the Cr-MIL-101 possesses BET specific surface area of 2563 m2/g. Catalytic performance of Cr-MIL-101 in the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol and 1-phenyl ethanol is assessed under vapour phase conditions in the temperature range of 513–533 K and time on stream (TOS) at 513 K. Cr-MIL-101 demonstrates superior catalytic activity with conversion of 95% of 1-phenyl ethanol. Moreover, high surface area and nanocages with coordinated unsaturated sites of Cr-MIL-101 have allowed us to attain higher dehydrated products selectivity than Cr-supported activated carbon (Cr/AC), amberlyst-15 and HZSM-5 catalysts.