Facile synthesis of Cu@Ag/SiO2 catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to methyl glycolate

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 294; p. 120121
• Main Authors: Hai, Yinhe, Guan, Tong, Feng, Yibin, Zhen, Ziheng, Yang, Youwei, Hu, Ying, Lv, Jing, Wang, Yue, Ma, Xinbin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.07.2024
• Subjects: Ag-based catalyst; Core-shell structure; Dimethyl oxalate; Methyl glycolate; Selective hydrogenation; Dimethyl oxalate; Core-shell structure; Selective hydrogenation; Methyl glycolate; Ag-based catalyst
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2024.120121

[Display omitted] •The small-sized Cu@Ag/SiO2 bimetallic catalysts was prepared by a facile wet impregnation method.•The optimal catalyst with Ag/Cu mass ratio of 3/2 displayed superior space time yield toward MG of 47.3 g·gAg−1·h−1.•The Cu@Ag core–shell structure facilitated the intermetallic electronic transference from copper to silver.•The exposure of electron-rich silver promoted catalytic activity and MG desorption simultaneously during DMO hydrogenation.•These results could offer a potential strategy to reduce the catalyst cost for the semi-hydrogenation of DMO to MG. A promising route for producing biodegradable polyglycolic acid material from syngas has garnered increasing attentions. In this route, one of the pivotal issues is developing favorable catalysts for semi-hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) to methyl glycolate (MG). Silver catalysts were reported to be effective but suffered from the high cost. Herein, we prepared small-sized Cu@Ag/SiO2 catalysts with appropriate Ag/Cu ratios by a facile wet impregnation method. This core–shell structure facilitated the intermetallic electronic transference from Cu to Ag. The surface exposure of electron-rich silver species could promote the catalytic activity and MG desorption in the DMO hydrogenation, which achieved high efficiency without compromising the MG selectivity. The optimal catalyst with Ag/Cu mass ratio of 3/2 displayed excellent space time yield towards MG of 47.3 g·gAg−1·h−1. These insights could offer a potential strategy to reduce the silver-based catalyst cost for the semi-hydrogenation of DMO to MG.