Preparation Method for Ruthenium Catalysts Supported by Carbon-Coated Aluminum Foams

A preparation method is proposed for coating aluminum and aluminum alloy foams with a porous carbon layer for application as a catalyst support. The polymerization of furfuryl alcohol with diluted oxalic acid was used as precursor for the carbon layer. The polymer layer was distributed by applying centrifugal forces via spinning foam substrates during the polymerization process to prevent clogging and for homogeneous growth of the polymer layer. A homogeneous deposition precipitation method was applied for incorporation of ruthenium on carbon-coated foam substrates. The carbon coating was characterized by X-ray tomography to measure the thickness distribution. The specific surface and pore volume distribution were determined by gas adsorption (BET) and mercury porosimetry. The prepared Ru/C foam catalysts were adopted as a stirrer in a rotating foam reactor for hydrogenation of glucose, a simple biomass model substance.