High thermodynamic stability of La-deficient rhombohedral form of lanthanum manganite phase as decisive factor in effective ketonization reaction of 1-butanol Original Research Article

The bimolecular ketonization of 1-butanol by lanthanum manganite perovskite of different La/Mn stoichiometry is reported. A quite high catalytic activity at relatively low temperature (∼320 °C) is found for La-deficient composition (La/Mn = 0.91). The property found is likely attributed to high concentration of the active centers (deep La-site deficiency of the catalystʹs rhombohedral structure form) and to high concentration of the oxidant, i.e., Mn ions of comparatively high valence (VMn), present in fully occupied Mn-sublattice. All these factors, additionally reinforced by the highest temperature and VMn variation stability of the catalyst (∼1100 °C, 3.4 ≤ × ΔVMn ≤ 3.17), ensure its the highest catalytic activity among the other compositions available.