Hydroformylation of 1-hexene for oxygenate fuels via promoted cobalt/active carbon catalysts at low-pressure

The hydroformylation of 1-hexene was catalyzed with active carbon-supported cobalt catalysts under the low syngas pressure. Small amount of Pt, Pd and Ru, added as promoters in Co/AC, led to a great improvement of catalytic activity for hydroformylation of 1-hexene. The promotional effect of Ru for Co/AC catalyst was the best in this study as the highest activity and selectivity for oxygenate formation. Meanwhile, the activity of 1-hexene hydroforrnylation increased with increasing Ru loading. Ru added was bulk-rich in the active carbon supported cobalt particles, showing very low surface Ru density. This kind of unbalanced alloy formation determined the highest performance of Ru added Co/AC catalyst, via small particles but high reduction degree, keeping more CO in non-dissociative state and lowering surface hydrogen pressure. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.