Hydrogenation of tetralin in presence of nitrogen using a noble-bimetallic couple over a Ti-modified SBA-15

Abstract

Monometallic Pt- and bimetallic Pt-Ir-modified Ti-SBA-15 were used in the hydrogenation of tetralin to decalin in the presence of 150 ppm of N as quinoline and indole at 250 °C and 15 atm of pressure of hydrogen, using a Parr reactor. The catalyst was synthesized using sol-gel method and Ti was added during the synthesis using Tetraethyl Orthotitanate. Pt/Ir was added by wetness impregnation. The catalysts prepared were extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption isotherms, UV–vis-DRS, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, TEM-EDS and TPR. UV–vis-DRS and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that Ti was incorporated in tetrahedral coordination in the framework of the SBA-15. The analysis showed that the mesoporous structure was maintained after metal incorporation and Ti incorporation helps to reduce significantly the size of the metals clusters and improves its dispersion considerably. Pt-Ir/Ti-SBA-15 was the most active catalyst. The experimental data were quantitatively represented by a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood type rate equation. The preliminary results show these materials as a promising catalyst for HDT reactions.