Selective conversion of cis-2-butene-1,4-diol to 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran over K, Ca and Ba metals-promoted Ru/SiO2 catalysts: Role of the promoter Original Research Article

The effect of K, Ca and Ba metals addition on the catalytic properties of SiO2 supported ruthenium catalysts in the selective liquid phase conversion of cis-2-butene-1,4-diol affording, when hydrogenated, 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran has been investigated. Catalysts containing 5 wt% Ru and promoted with a different amount of selected first and second group metals salts have been prepared and characterized by TPR, XRD, TEM, FT-IR of adsorbed pyridine and CO. It has been found that promoters modify the microstructural and electronic properties of Ru particles compared with those of the undoped Ru/SiO2 sample, depending on the metal nature and loading. Consequently, the catalytic activity and selectivity towards reaction products, in cis-2-butene-1,4-diol hydrogenation, is strongly affected by the presence of promoters.