Photochemical deposition of Platinum over MWNT: making catalysts for selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

Abstract

In the present study, the photochemical deposition method was compared against the usual incipient wetness procedure in the preparation of supported Pt catalysts. Particular attention was given to parameters such as nature of the support (multiwalled carbon nanotubes, MWNT vs. titanium dioxide, TiO2) and reduction temperature. Supported 1% wt Pt catalysts treated in hydrogen at 773K showed improved activity and selectivity towards cinnamyl alcohol (50.8 and 57.4% were observed in MWNT and TiO2 - SMSI effect, respectively) when comparing to those untreated (45.8 and 28.9, MWNT and TiO2, respectively). The best catalytic performance was achieved by a 5% wt Pt supported in TiO2 catalyst treated in hydrogen at 773K. Selectivity to unsaturated alcohol as high as 63.2% at 80% conversion was observed.