ABSTRACT
Ester hydrogenolysis to alcohols is typically operated at ca. 5000 psi and 523 K using promoted copper chromites. Catalyst lifetimes are short. This high-pressure process along with a short catalyst lifetime results in a high operating cost. This chapter aims to characterize copper titanias and copper chromite catalysts using CO adsorption, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The knowledge gained will help us to design/tailor catalysts which will meet the requirements. CO chemisorption measurements were performed using a conventional Pyrex volumetric adsorption apparatus. All catalysts were reduced at 573 K for 8 h in flowing 50 sccm of hydrogen prior to adsorption. It has been recently found that the presence of the chromium oxide greatly improves the performance of the copper catalysts in dehydrogenation reactions. Copper crystallites may be surrounded by small chromium oxide particles acting as spacers to prevent the growth of copper crystallites, thereby inhibiting the sintering.
