Preparation of nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes and study of their performance as basic catalysts

Nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes were prepared, characterized and used as catalysts for two reactions of interest in the biomass upgrading processes: acetone aldol and acetic acid decarboxylative condensations. N-CNT were synthesized in a fluidized bed reactor by catalytic chemical vapor decomposition of acetonitrile on iron-, cobalt- and nickel-supported catalysts. Ni-N-CNT catalyst exhibits the highest activity, attributed to the surface concentration of basic sites, particularly the pyridinic species detected by X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). Likewise, the selectivity toward the final products of the reaction pathway is related both to the strength of basic sites (Ni-N-CNT) and to the morphology and chemical environment of the active sites (Fe-N-CNT). Synthesized catalysts show high stability for acetone condensation, whereas for ketonic condensation the catalyst stability decreases, mainly due to acic–base interactions with the active sites.This work was financed by the Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness (projects no. CTQ2011-29272-C04-01, -02 and -03).Peer Reviewe