Mesoporous silica-supported Nisingle bondB amorphous alloy catalysts for selective hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone

The effects of pore structure on the reaction rates and selectivities in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone over Nisingle bondB amorphous alloy catalysts prepared by the reductant-impregnation method were studied using regular (HMS, MCM-41, and SBA-15) and commercial mesoporous silicas as supports. The composition, particle size, and location of the Nisingle bondB particles were profoundly influenced by the pore structure of the supports. It is found that the location of the Nisingle bondB particles depended on the pore size of the supports, whereas the uniformity of particle size was related to the interaction between the Nisingle bondB particles and the supports. The hydrogenation rate was much faster on Nisingle bondB catalysts with pore diameters exceeding 5 nm than on the narrow-pore catalysts, whereas the selectivity to 2-ethyldihydroanthraquinone, the carbonyl group hydrogenation product, was higher on Nisingle bondB catalysts supported on regular mesoporous silicas. The best activity and selectivity were achieved when using SBA-15 as the support, which is attributable to the formation of more uniform active sites due to the unique pore structure of SBA-15.