Nanocrystalline Pt-CeO2 Catalyst for Phenol Hydrogenation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial processes for the selective hydrogenation of phenol and its derivatives require high H2 pressure and temperature, are costly, and often necessitate the use of organic solvents or promoters, limiting their efficiency and practicality for upgrading bio-oil and producing cyclohexanol.
Innovation Solution
A process for preparing nanocrystalline Pt—CeO2 catalyst involves mixing a Cerium salt, surfactant, and water to form a gel, followed by autoclaving, filtering, and calcining, then incorporating platinum to create a catalyst with specific particle sizes and compositions for hydrogenation in a liquid phase at reduced pressures, enabling efficient conversion of phenol to cyclohexanol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high H2 pressure and temperature are used for hydrogenation of phenol, then conversion and selectivity are improved, but process cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the catalyst system by using nanocrystalline structure with controlled particle size (1-5 nm for Pt, 20-50 nm for CeO2) and specific crystal planes. This parameter change enables the reaction to proceed at lower temperatures (80-150°C) and pressures (1-5 MPa) while maintaining high conversion and selectivity, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite catalyst system consisting of Pt nanoparticles supported on CeO2 nanocrystals. This composite material synergistically combines the hydrogenation activity of Pt with the oxygen storage and transfer capability of CeO2, enabling efficient phenol hydrogenation under milder conditions and reducing energy requirements while maintaining high productivity
2Productivity
If conventional catalysts are used for phenol hydrogenation, then reaction proceeds at high temperature and pressure, but additional equipment and safety arrangements are required
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the catalyst parameters to nanocrystalline structure with specific particle sizes and surface properties, the patent enables phenol hydrogenation at reduced temperatures (80-150°C) and pressures (1-5 MPa). This parameter change reduces the complexity of safety equipment and operational procedures required compared to conventional high-pressure hydrogenation processes
3Productivity
If organic solvents and promoters are used in hydrogenation process, then reaction selectivity is improved, but process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for organic solvents and additional promoters by incorporating all necessary catalytic functions into the Pt-CeO2 nanocrystalline system. The CeO2 support provides oxygen storage and transfer capability that replaces the function of organic promoters, while the nanocrystalline structure enables selective hydrogenation without requiring organic solvents, thus reducing process complexity while maintaining high selectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The Pt-CeO2 composite catalyst performs multiple functions simultaneously: Pt provides hydrogenation activity, CeO2 provides oxygen storage and transfer, and the nanocrystalline structure provides high surface area and active sites. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate promoters and solvents, simplifying the process while maintaining high selectivity
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 process achieves high conversion and selectivity of cyclohexanol with reduced H2 pressure and temperature, utilizing a reusable catalyst that does not require additional reagents, effectively upgrading bio-oil and producing cyclohexanol with high yield and selectivity.
Implementation Method 1
solidifying the gel by autoclaving the gel at temperature ranging between 150-180° C. for 7-10 days to obtain a solid
Implementation Method 2
calcining the dried product at temperature range of 450-750° C. for a period ranging between 4-10 h to obtain Ce oxide
Implementation Method 3
nanocrystalline Pt—CeO2 catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of phenol and its derivatives
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a process and catalyst for the conversion of phenol and its derivatives to cyclohexane and cyclohexanol. The process provides a direct single step for selective hydrogenation of phenol and its derivatives over Pt—Ce oxide catalyst. The process provides a phenol conversion of 50 to 100% and selectivity of hydrogenated product up to 98%.