Effect of Mg/Al₂O₃ and calcination temperature on the catalytic decomposition of HFC-134a

This paper evaluated the effect of calcination temperature and the use of Mg/Al₂O₃ on the decomposition of HFC-134a. Two commercialized catalysts, Al₂O₃ and Mg/Al₂O₃, were calcined at two different temperatures (500 and 650 C) and their physicochemical characteristics were examined by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and the temperature-programed desorption of ammonia and carbon dioxide analysis. The results show that, in comparison to Al₂O₃, 5% Mg/Al₂O₃ exhibited a larger Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and higher acidity. The relative amount of strong acid sites of the catalysts decreased with increasing calcination temperature. Although a more than 90% decomposition rate of HFC-134a was achieved over all catalysts during the sequential decomposition test of HFC-134a using a vertical plug flow reactor connected directly to a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system, the lifetime of the catalyst differed according to the catalyst type. Compared to Al₂O₃, Mg/Al₂O₃ revealed a longer lifetime and less coke formation due to the increased Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and weak Lewis acid sites and basic sites arising from Mg impregnation. Higher temperature calcination extended the catalyst lifetime with the formation of less coke due to the smaller number of strong acid sites, which can lead to severe coke formation. A valuable by-product, trifluoroethylene, was formed as a result of the decomposition. Based on the experimental results, a reaction is proposed which reasonably explains the decomposition reaction.