Gas-phase epoxidation of Hexafluoropropene using molecular oxygen and alkali doped CuO catalyst: Mechanism and kinetics

The study investigated the partial oxidation of hexafluoropropene over CuO catalyst with molecular oxygen in a continuous flow fixed bed reactor. The catalysts were characterized using various techniques, and the results confirmed catalyst's structure-reactivity correlation. The major products were hexafluoropropene oxide (HFPO) and carbonyl fluoride, with minor trifluoroacetyl fluoride produced when the catalyst had significantly declined in primary activity. The maximum selectivity of 52.5% HFPO was obtained at 13.4% hexafluoropropene conversion at 4.5 bar and 453 K. The proposed redox mechanism kinetic model was in adequate agreement with the experimental data (R2 = 0.97 for COF2 and 0.67 for HFPO). [Display omitted] •Hexafluoropropene is partially oxidized over CuO catalyst with O2 in a continuous flow fixed bed reactor.•Characterization results confirms CuO phase and expounds the structure-reactivity correlation.•Primary reaction redox mechanism is proposed.•At 4.5 bar and 453 K, 52.5% max selectivity is achieved at 13.4% HFP conversion, at a lower residence time than the noncatalytic process.•The proposed kinetic model is in adequate agreement with experimental data (R2 = 0.97 for COF2 and 0.67 for HFPO).