Zn species decorated Pt/CeO2 catalysts for selective hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol in continuous-flow reactor

Designing highly efficient and stable catalysts is vital for large-scale manufacturing of 1,4-butenediol via continuous-flow semi-hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol. Herein, Zn species decorated Pt/CeO2 catalysts are investigated in the semi-hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol. Both the Pt delta--Zn delta+structure and the decreased Pt surface density caused by Zn decoration profoundly affect the adsorption structures and bonding strength of the reactants and intermediates, thus leading to a favorable hydrogenation property. The activation energy over PtZn0.5/CeO2 is 42.8 kJ mol-1, which is lower than 56.6 kJ mol -1 over Pt/CeO2 catalyst. The PtZn0.5/CeO2 achieves the highest 1,4-butenediol yield (85%) under mild conditions and stability in the long-term reaction (100 h). This stems from the proper spatial arrangement of Pt delta-active sites leading to a weak n-bonding mode toward C--C adsorption, rather than strong di-a adsorption at successive Pt sites. It provides fundamental guidelines for designing Pt-based catalysts with high performance for the selective hydrogenation of alkynols.

Automated summary

Decorated Pt/CeO2 catalysts with Zn species exhibit high efficiency and stability in the semi-hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol. The Pt delta-Zn delta+ structure and reduced Pt surface density due to Zn decoration significantly impact the adsorption structures and bonding strength, resulting in favorable hydrogenation properties. The PtZn0.5/CeO2 catalyst achieves the highest 1,4-butenediol yield (85%) under mild conditions and maintains stability over long-term reactions (100 h). This study provides fundamental guidelines for designing high-performance Pt-based catalysts for selective hydrogenation of alkynols.