ABSTRACT
A heuristic method (so called “profiling analysis”) was developed. The method is based on a large library of precious metal powder catalysts with different metal loading, metal dispersion, degree of reduction and functionalities of support materials and a data base comprising activity data from hydrogenation of mono-functional substrates. The data base allows the fast identification of potential catalysts for hydrogenation of multifunctional substrates from the library. In the presentation the usage of the profiling method is demonstrated for identification of a highly selective catalyst for hydroxyl-olefin hydrogenation to the hydroxy-alkane. Introduction
The development of heterogeneous catalysts is related to the challenge that solid properties determining the catalytic properties are not easily accessible. This is especially true for fine tuning of selectivity and long-term catalytic stability where gradual changes by 1 % are already of importance. Regardless, the fact that catalysts do not show obvious differences with respect to solid properties (e. g. metal particle size, particle dispersion or solid phase and oxidation state of the active metal) they often reveal differences in their catalytic behaviour. For industrial application of catalysts in fine chemistry these circumstances are serious obstacles for a straightforward rational development and the identification of suitable catalysts for conversion of certain substrates [1].
