Supported metal nanoparticles on activated carbon for α,β-unsaturated aldehyde hydrogenation

Abstract

Palladium and platinum nanoparticles on an activated carbon were used as catalysts in the citral hydrogenation reaction. Temperature Programmed Reduction and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy showed that on the monometallic catalysts, Pd and Pt were totally reduced. All Pd based catalysts (PdN/C, PdCl/C and Pd-Pt/C) showed similar activity, whereas Pt/C displayed a lower activity. The bimetallic Pd-Pt/C was the most active and selective catalyst. Electron-deficient and electron-rich species, chlorine amount on carbon surface and the modification of surface groups produced during the catalysts synthesis played an important role on the selectivity values to obtained products.