Ester hydrogenolysis

Projects & Articles

Topic: Supported Cu-based catalysts for hydrogenolysis 
Funding: Czech Science Foundation - 20-28093S
Date: 2020-2022 
Goal: The main goal is to shed light on the relationship between synthesis, structure and hydrogenolysis activity of supported Cu catalysts. A partial goal is to maximize Cu dispersion and its stability in the catalysts. 

Abstract: The main goal of the project proposal is to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental issues that lie at the heart of the structure–activity relationship paradigm of the Cu-based hydrogenolysis catalysts. The project will thus focus on controlled synthesis of Cu-based supported catalysts on a variety of well-defined supports to obtain hydrogenolysis catalysts with different structural and physico-chemical properties. In particular, variations in Cu cluster size and improvements in its long-term stability (i.e. sinter-resistance) will be attempted. The activity, selectivity as well as stability of the catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts will be investigated in hydrogenolysis of esters and the results will be correlated with the catalyst structural and physico-chemical properties to provide information on the structure-activity relationships useful for rational design of hydrogenolysis catalysts. 

Topic: Development of environmentally friendly hydrogenation catalysts
Funding: Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic – FV40158
Duration: 2019-2022
Goal: The goal of the project is to develop a new chromium-free catalyst having a comparable stability, activity and durability as the currently used catalyst containing copper and chromium. The new catalyst will be a more environmentally friendly alternative of the current catalyst not only from the application point of view, but also from the catalyst production point of view as the amount of toxic wastes containing chromium (VI) will be reduced.
Project partner: Ranido, s.r.o.

Topic: Investigation and optimization of promoted CuZnAl hydrogenation catalysts 
Funding: Czech Science Foundation - 17-05704S
Date: 2017-2019 
Goal: The goal of the project is to describe the relationship between the composition, structure and properties of promoted CuZnAl catalysts and their catalytic activity and selectivity in hydrogenation and hydrogenolytic reactions.

Abstract: The project investigates promoted CuZnAl hydrogenation catalysts. The hydrogenation catalysts based on CuZn are promising catalysts for hydrogenation of chemical specialties, such as esters. CuZnAl catalysts will be synthesized under controlled conditions relying on co-precipitation, deposition and impregnation methods. The catalysts will be characterized in detail by physico-chemical characterization techniques. This will allow rationalizing the relationship between catalyst synthesis parameters and catalyst structure and its properties. The hydrogenation performance of the synthesized CuZnAl catalysts will be studied by hydrogenation of two model ester compounds (dimethyl adipate and methyl caproate) to the corresponding alcohols. This will facilitate the description of the relationship between the catalyst structure and properties, on the one hand, and catalyst activity and selectivity, on the other hand. The stability of the catalysts will be studied as well. 

Articles

Aubrecht J.,PospelovaV.,Martínez A., Concepción P., KikhtyaninO., Straka P., Kubička D.; CuZnAl hydrotalcites as suitable precursors for chromium-free ester hydrogenolysis catalysts, Appl.Catal. A, 644 (2022).

Aubrecht J., Pospelova V., Kikhtyanin O., Veselý M., Kubička D.: Critical evaluation of parameters affecting Cu nanoparticles formation and their activity in dimethyl adipate hydrogenolysis. Catal. Today 387, 1 March 2022, 61-71.

Aubrecht J., Pospelova V., Kikhtyanin O., Lhotka M., Kubička D.: Understanding of the key properties of supported Cu-based catalysts and their influence on ester hydrogenolysis. Catal. Today 397-399, 1 Agust 2022, 173-181.

Pospelova V., Aubrecht J., Kikhtyanin O., Kubička D.: Towards efficient Cu/ZnO catalysts for ester hydrogenolysis: The role of synthesis method. Appl. Catal. A 624, 118320 (2021).

Aubrecht J., Pospelova V., Kikhtyanin O., Dubnová L., Kubička D.: Do metal-oxide promoters of Cu hydrogenolysis catalysts affect the Cu intrinsic activity? Appl. Catal. A 608, 117889 (2020).

Kikhtyanin O., Aubrecht J., Pospelova V., Kubička D.: On the origin of the transesterification reaction route during dimethyl adipate hydrogenolysis. Appl. Catal. A 606, 117825 (2020).

Pospelova V., Aubrecht J., Pacultová K., Lhotka M., Kikhtyanin O., Kubička D.: Does the structure of CuZn hydroxycarbonate precursors affect the intrinsic hydrogenolysis activity of CuZn catalysts? Catal. Sci. Technol. 2020, 10, 3303

Kubička D., Aubrecht J., Pospelova V., Tomášek J., Šimáček P., Kikhtyanin O.: On the importance of transesterification by-products during hydrogenolysis of dimethyl adipate to hexanediol. Catalysis Communications 2018, 111, 16-20  

Kikhtyanin O., Pospelova V., Aubrecht J., Lhotka M., Kubička D.: Effect of Calcination Atmosphere and Temperature on the Hydrogenolysis Activity and Selectivity of Copper-Zinc Catalysts. Catalysts 2018, 8(10), 446

Pospelova V., Aubrecht J., Kikhtyanin O., Pacultová K., Kubička D.: CuZn catalysts superior to Adkins catalysts for dimethyl adipate hydrogenolysis, ChemCatChem, 2019, 11(8), 2169-2178