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Spherical Boron Nitride Supported Gold–Copper Catalysts for the Low‐Temperature Selective Oxidation of Ethanol
Author(s) -
Wang Yang,
Shi Lei,
Lu Wenduo,
Sun Qiang,
Wang Zifeng,
Zhi Chunyi,
Lu AnHui
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201700002
Subject(s) - acetaldehyde , boron nitride , space velocity , selectivity , catalysis , adsorption , copper , ethanol , nanoparticle , chemistry , desorption , inorganic chemistry , boron , chemical engineering , colloidal gold , materials science , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , engineering
The oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde in the fine‐chemical industry is a burgeoning process that requires leading‐edge technology. A major challenge is to find a catalyst with high ethanol conversion and high acetaldehyde selectivity at a high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and a low operation temperature. Boron nitride nanosphere supported Au–Cu nanoparticles offer much opportunity for low‐temperature ethanol oxidation. A catalytic ethanol conversion of 77 % and a selectivity of 94 % towards acetaldehyde were achieved at a temperature of 180 °C and a high GHSV of 100 000 mL g cat −1 h −1 , values that far exceed those obtained with Au–Cu/SiO 2 . The immobilized Au–Cu nanoparticles have an average size of approximately 3 nm, and the majority of Au species are assigned Au δ − . The weak interaction of acetaldehyde with both Au–Cu active phases and the boron nitride support facilitates the adsorption–desorption behavior of acetaldehyde. As a result, the progression of secondary reactions is slowed and the degree of coverage of the active sites is minimized.