Palladium supported on high surface area ceria (241 m2 g-1) was able to effectively catalyze the hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone at atmospheric pressure and room temperature within 4 h. The redox properties of the catalyst (Pd/CeO2) reduced at different temperatures under flowing hydrogen was monitored by temperature-programmed reduction. Reduction of the catalyst at different temperatures greatly affected the redox properties and activity of the catalyst. These changes are believed to be the result of the strong interaction that exists between palladium and ceria under reducing environments, which helps to facilitate palladium dispersion. Temperature programmed diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy was used to monitor the adsorption of phenol onto ceria. Phenol undergoes dissociative adsorption on ceria to yield cerium-bound phenoxide and surface-bound water. The formation of cerium-bound phenoxide is thought to result in the high activity of Pd/CeO2 for phenol hydrogenation. A mechanism for the reduction of phenol on Pd/CeO2 is proposed.

Selective hydrogenation of phenol catalyzed by palladium on high surface ceria at room temperature and ambient pressure

249th National Meeting (2015)

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