A kinetic analysis methodology to elucidate the roles of metal, support and solvent for the hydrogenation of 4-phenyl-2-butanone over Pt/TiO2

• Published in: Journal of catalysis 2015-10, Vol.330, p.362-373
• Main Authors: Wilkinson, S.K., McManus, I., Daly, H., Thompson, J.M., Hardacre, C., Sedaie Bonab, N., ten Dam, J., Simmons, M.J.H., D’Agostino, C., McGregor, J., Gladden, L.F., Stitt, E.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Aromatic ketone; Catalysis; Kinetic modelling; Kinetics; Selective hydrogenation; Solvent effect; Solvents; Titania
• ISSN: 0021-9517; 1090-2694
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2015.06.007

[Display omitted] •Kinetics of 4-phenyl-2-butanone hydrogenation over Pt/TiO2 presented.•Statistical analysis tools used to elucidate impact of solvent on kinetics.•Kinetics suggests aromatic ring and ketone hydrogenation occur over different sites.•Solvent choice impacts aromatic ring but not ketone hydrogenation rate constant.•Product adsorption parameter strength is linked to hydrophobicity of solvent. The rate and, more importantly, selectivity (ketone vs aromatic ring) of the hydrogenation of 4-phenyl-2-butanone over a Pt/TiO2 catalyst have been shown to vary with solvent. In this study, a fundamental kinetic model for this multi-phase reaction has been developed incorporating statistical analysis methods to strengthen the foundations of mechanistically sound kinetic models. A 2-site model was determined to be most appropriate, describing aromatic hydrogenation (postulated to be over a platinum site) and ketone hydrogenation (postulated to be at the platinum–titania interface). Solvent choice has little impact on the ketone hydrogenation rate constant but strongly impacts aromatic hydrogenation due to solvent-catalyst interaction. Reaction selectivity is also correlated to a fitted product adsorption constant parameter. The kinetic analysis method shown has demonstrated the role of solvents in influencing reactant adsorption and reaction selectivity.