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Support Effects on the Activity and Selectivity of Ni3CuSn0.3 Trimetallic Catalysts in the Selective Hydrogenation of Phenylacetylene

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Supported Ni-based catalysts present a promising alternative to precious Pd-based catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene due to their abundance and cost-effectiveness. However, the influence of support materials on the catalytic performance of Ni-based catalysts has been insufficiently explored. In this study, a series of Ni 3 CuSn 0.3 trimetallic catalysts (Ni:Cu:Sn molar ratio of 3:1:0.3; Ni loading of 20 wt %) supported on various materials, including SiO 2, SBA-15, Al 2 O 3, MgO, CeO 2, and TiO 2, were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated. In general, silica-supported catalysts showed higher hydrogenation activity but lower styrene selectivity, while metal oxide-supported catalysts exhibited reduced activity but enhanced selectivity. The catalytic activity decreased with increasing Sn incorporation into the Ni–Cu alloys, whereas styrene selectivity was affected by both electronic and geometric effects. Among the catalysts tested, Ni 3 CuSn 0.3 /Al 2 O 3 demonstrated the highest styrene selectivity at complete phenylacetylene conversion. This catalyst was further prepared via a scalable solvent-free ball milling method, achieving an initial reaction rate of 4.5 mmol/(g·min) and 95% styrene selectivity at complete phenylacetylene conversion under 60 °C and 0.5 MPa. Moreover, it displayed stable performance over multiple reaction cycles, with the properties remaining well-preserved. These results offer new opportunities for developing large-scale processes for the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene using earth-abundant catalysts.

Source: ACS Omega

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c01829

Authors: Kehang Ruan, Aohui Xiao, Hongjie Cui, Zhiming Zhou

Institutions: East China University of Science and Technology, Tsinghua University

Language: English

Topic: Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,935

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China