Superhydrophobic Ru Catalyst for Highly Efficient Hydrogenation of Phenol under Mild Aqueous Conditions

• Published in: Catalysts Vol. 12; no. 9; p. 995
• Main Authors: Wang, Shanshan, Wang, Jingliang, Li, Xiaoxian, Yang, Mingde, Wu, Yulong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; aqueous-phase; Biomass; Carbon; Catalysts; Chemical industry; Chemical reactions; Fine chemicals; Hydrogen; Hydrogenation; Hydrophobic surfaces; Hydrophobicity; Lignin; Lignocellulose; N-doped; Nanoparticles; Nitrogen; phenol; Phenols; Productivity; Ru cluster; Ruthenium; Selectivity; Solvents; Spectrum analysis; Spheres; superhydrophobic carbon; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 2073-4344; 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal12090995

Selective hydrogenations of lignin-derived phenolic compounds represent essential processes in the chemical industry, especially for production of a multitude of fine chemicals. However, selective hydrogenation of phenolic compounds in water phase suffers from low conversion. Here we report a catalyst of well-dispersed Ru clusters fixed in N-doped mesoporous hollow carbon spheres (Ru@N-CS) for enhanced cyclohexanol productivity in phenol hydrogenation at mild aqueous condition. This superhydrophobicity carbon spheres appear to selectively allow diffusion of phenol and hydrogen molecules to the electron-rich coordination unsaturated Ru active sites, while confining the reactants there to enhance its reaction probability. The Ru@N-CS catalyst can selectively hydrogenate phenol at 80 °C and 0.5 MPa of H2 in 30 min in aqueous medium with phenol conversions of 100% and ~100% cyclohexanol selectivity, corresponding to cyclohexanol productivity up to 471 per g of Ru per minute. The TOF value is up to 9980 h−1, which 14 times more than Ru nanoparticles supported on N-doped carbon hollow spheres (Ru/N-CS). This work provides an important catalytic system for upgrading of bio-oil into value-added chemicals under mild aqueous-phase.