Microporous Catalyst for Aromatic Hydrogenation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catalysts for the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds suffer from reduced activity and selectivity due to mechanical, thermal, and chemical stresses, leading to changes in pore size and BET surface area, and are not resistant to acidic conditions, resulting in significant side reactions and short on-stream time.

Innovation Solution

A catalyst comprising a metal from the eighth transition group, such as platinum or ruthenium, supported on a material with an average pore diameter of 2 to 50 nm and a narrow pore distribution, which maintains high selectivity and space-time yield without significant side reactions, even under acidic conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing supported catalysts are used for hydrogenation, then the reaction can proceed, but the catalyst activity and selectivity decrease due to mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses causing pore size and BET surface area changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalyst activity and selectivityVSAvoidon-stream time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the pore size parameter of the support material to a specific range (0.5-5 μm) and maintains a narrow pore size distribution, which optimizes the balance between reactant access and catalyst protection. This parameter optimization allows the catalyst to maintain high activity and selectivity throughout extended on-stream times despite mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite catalyst system combining a metal of the eighth transition group (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os) with a specifically designed porous support material. This composite structure provides both the catalytic activity of the metal and the mechanical/chemical stability of the optimized support, enabling long on-stream time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If catalysts are used under acidic conditions, then hydrogenation can proceed, but significant side reactions occur and on-stream time is reduced due to lack of acid resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydrogenation rateVSAvoidside reactions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the pore size parameter (0.5-5 μm) and pore size distribution of the support material to create a structure that is inherently more resistant to acid degradation. This parameter optimization reduces the formation of side products while maintaining high hydrogenation productivity, even in acidic reaction conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention selects metals from the eighth transition group (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os) which, while expensive, provide exceptional stability and resistance to side reactions under acidic conditions, effectively making the catalyst a long-lasting component that does not require frequent replacement despite the harsh reaction environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The catalyst achieves high selectivity and space-time yield in the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds to alicyclic polycarboxylic acids or esters, with improved resistance to acidic environments and prolonged on-stream time, reducing by-product formation and maintaining activity.

Implementation Method 1

A catalyst comprising a metal from the eighth transition group, such as platinum or ruthenium, supported on a material with an average pore diameter of 2 to 50 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

supported on a material with an average pore diameter of 2 to 50 nm and a narrow pore distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS8207375B2Microporous catalyst and method for hydrogenating aromatic compounds
Publication Date: 2012.06.26 EVONIK OXENO GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The invention relates to the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds, in particular the preparation of alicyclic polycarboxylic acids or their esters by core hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic acids or their esters, and also to catalysts suitable therefore.