Work

Influence of the Support Nature of Copper Catalysts on Catalytic Properties in the Hydrogenation of Fatty Acid Esters

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Copper-containing catalysts supported on different commercial oxide supports (SiO2, Al2O3, and mixed oxide supports) were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method and investigated for the selective hydrogenation of methyl esters (methyl butyrate, methyl hexanoate, methyl stearate) to fatty alcohols. Characterization techniques, including transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, and the temperature-programmed hydrogen reduction (H2-TPR) method, were utilized and revealed the relationship between catalyst properties and its structure. The best results of catalytic activity were obtained in the presence of the Cu catalyst supported on SiO2 with co-precipitated Al2O3, where the conversion of esters was above 50% with a selectivity for the corresponding alcohols of 40–70%. This efficient and inexpensive Cu-based catalyst can be widely used in industrial production, which is conducive to promoting the development of non-precious metal catalysts in the biomass industry.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms26073289