Liquid-phase furfural hydrogenation employing silica-supported PtSn and PtGe catalysts prepared using surface organometallic chemistry on metals techniques

ANDREA B. MERLO; VIRGINIA VETERE; JOSÉ M. RAMALLO-LÓPEZ; FELIX G. REQUEJO; MÓNICA L. CASELLA

REACTION KINETICS AND CATALYSIS LETTERS

SPRINGER

Año: 2011 p. 1 - 16

0133-1736

Platinum–germanium and platinum–tin catalysts supported on silica,containing different amounts of Sn and Ge, were synthesized using the surfaceorganometallic chemistry on metals technique. The catalysts were characterizedusing transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectra and X-rayabsorption near edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure; andwere tested in the liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of furfural. The atomic ratiobetween the two metals resulted the key factor towards the optimization of theactivity and selectivity of the bimetallic catalysts. The bimetallic catalysts weremore active than the parent Pt/SiO2 catalyst in the hydrogenation of furfural. Theseresults can be accounted for by considering a new type of active site having anarchitecture which would favor the hydrogenation of the C=O group is created,allowing an increased activity towards obtaining furfuryl alcohol. All the studiedsystems allowed to obtain furfuryl alcohol with high selectivity.