The catalytic activity of a series of supported ruthenium catalysts was compared to examine whether the identity of the support affected the overall activity and product distribution in the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of phenol. Supports included carbon, carbon nanofibers, alumina, silica gel, SBA-15, and MCM-41. Ru on carbon (Ru/C) transformed the most phenol per gram of ruthenium but Ru on MCM-41 (Ru/MCM-41), Ru on silica gel (Ru/SG) and Ru on alumina (Ru/Al2O3) all catalyzed the transformation of phenol.  The silica-supported catalysts were most effective at hydrodeoxygenation while the alumina-supported catalyst produced almost exclusively cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. The results suggest that supports with greater thermal stability than carbon have promise in HDO reactions, and also that ruthenium supported catalysts can catalyze both hydrodeoxygenation and hydrogenation reactions.

Catalytic activity of a series of supported Ru hydrodeoxygenation catalysts

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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