Influence of alkali metal doping on selectivity behaviour of platinum catalysts for hydrogenation of 2-butyne-1,4-diol

Abstract

Hydrogenation of 2-butyne-1,4-diol to 2-butene-1,4-diol (B₂D) and butane-1,4-diol (B₁D) using Pt catalysts doped with alkali metals was studied. These catalysts showed higher selectivity to the olefinic diol (B₂D) compared to that with monometallic platinum catalyst. Among various alkali metals, Cs-doped catalyst showed highest selectivity (>99%) to B₂D. The selectivity to B₂D increased (up to 99.9%) with increase in the concentration of Cs from 0.25% to 1%. The increase in the basic strength of alkali doped catalysts measured by CO₂-TPD, would be responsible for the increase in electron density of Pt hence, faster desorption and higher selectivity to the intermediate olefinic diol (B₂D). The reaction parameters, such as temperature, H₂ pressure and substrate concentration have strong influence on the catalyst activity but almost no effect on the selectivity to B₂D.