LAUSR

Abstract A novel heterogeneous rhodium-incorporated graphitic carbon nitride (Rh-g-C3N4) was investigated for a liquid-phase carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid (AA) to overcome disadvantages of the commercialized Rh-based homogeneous catalysts. The heterogeneous Rh-g-C3N4 catalyst showed a superior catalytic activity in a liquid-phase carbonylation with AA yield above 82% under the reaction conditions of 413 K and CO pressure of 4.0 MPa, where the initially formed MA intermediate can be easily hydrolyzed to form AA. A higher dispersion of the incorporated rhodium nanoparticles in the g-C3N4 matrix with a small crystallite size was responsible for a higher catalytic activity with a less leaching degree of active rhodium metals. The novel Rh-g-C3N4 with rhodium content of 1–3 wt% can be a candidate to substitute the commercial homogeneous Rh complex catalyst for AA production by methanol carbonylation.