Model biomass conversion reactions on oxide surface: Ethylene glycol on CeO2(111)

CHEN, TSUNG-LIANG; CALAZA, FLORENCIA C.; OVERBURY, STEVEN H.; MULLINS, DAVID R.

Boston, MA

Conferencia; 240th ACS National Meeting; 2010

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Hydrogen production from the reforming of oxygenated hydrocarbons is highly dependent on the heterogeneous reactions provided by its catalysts. Cerium oxide supported metal catalysts can offer a means of reducing precious metal loading and achieving higher selectivity. Thus studying the direct contribution from the metal oxide surface to the decomposition of the molecules can give insight into the catalytic reforming process. In light of our previous characterization on C1-C3 oxygenate reactions on cerium oxide thin films, we further examine ethylene glycol as a model system for bio-mass derived hydrocarbons. While one of the C-O groups in ethylene glycol is converted into COO through reaction with the fully oxidized surface, the reduced ceria provides an alternative reaction path. Oxygen vacancies in reduced ceria result in breaking C-O and C-H bonds in ethylene glycol producing a carbanion intermediate similar to what was observed for acetaldehyde.