Effect of Pt addition to Ru–Sn/Al2O3 catalyst on hydrogenation of methyl laurate Original Research Article

Hydrogenation of methyl laurate was studied using the binary Ru–Sn and the ternary Ru–Sn–Pt catalysts, both supported on Al2O3. The catalysts were suspended in neat methyl ester, and the reaction was carried out at 300 °C and 9.15 MPa (Gauge pressure) of H2 in an autoclave. The catalysts were prepared by the conventional co-impregnation method and characterized by XRD and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm. Elution of metals during the reaction was measured by ICP. Under the adopted reduction conditions of the catalyst precursor, not all the Sn species were reduced to Sn metal; our study revealed that a part of SnO2 dissolved during the reaction. The addition of Pt to Ru–Sn/γ-Al2O3 promoted reduction of the Sn species, prevented the elution of Sn and gave a higher catalytic performance.