SYNTHESIS OF KETENES WITH OXIDE CATALYSTS Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Design principles elucidated from surface science studies of carboxylic acid chemistry on oxide surfaces were applied to the synthesis of ketenes by catalytic dehydration. High surface area silicas were found to produce C2-C5 ketenes from the corresponding carboxylic acids above 700 K in both temperature-programmed desorption and steady-state catalysis experiments. Ketene selectivities of 3585% on a carbon basis were obtained, with CO2 and ketones as the principal side products. The activity for ketene production tracks catalyst surface area and hydroxyl population, and a catalytic cycle involving surface hydroxyls as active sites is proposed. This one-step catalytic route to ketenes offers potential reduction of operating temperature, complexity, solvent utilization and/or byproduct formation relative to currently practiced, noncatalytic technologies. 1994, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH

author list (cited authors)

  • LIBBY, M. C., WATSON, P. C., & BARTEAU, M. A.

citation count

  • 33

complete list of authors

  • LIBBY, MC||WATSON, PC||BARTEAU, MA

publication date

  • December 1994