Mn2O3-supported Pd–Cu catalysts synthesized by two biogenic methods,
sol-immobilization (SI) and adsorption–reduction, are compared
to catalysts prepared via three conventional methods, impregnation
(IP), deposition–precipitation with urea (DPU), and deposition
of colloids stabilized with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (DCPVP). The as-synthesized
supported alloy catalysts of sizes between 2 and 8 nm were employed
in the gas-phase selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene. Their alloy
nature was proved from characterizations including diffuse reflectance
infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and CO adsorption tests, temperature-programmed
reduction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
It was observed that the synthesis method greatly affects the final
surface constituent of catalyst Pd/Cu ratio and partial particle reconstruction
occurs under CO exposure. The optimum catalyst constituent of Pd–Cu0.06–Mn2O3 was selected since
it provided excellent conversion with poor selectivity to unwanted
butane. Selectivity of all of the catalysts directly correlated with
increasing Cu content and Pd-to-butadiene conversion. The bioreduction-supported
catalysts using SI with a Pd/Cu atomic ratio of 0.9:1.4 showed excellent
balances between butadiene conversion of 99.1% and selectivity to
total butene above 92%, which we attribute to repulsion to H and its
neighboring adsorbed inherent C and N atoms with adjacent Pd atoms
and alloy synergy. The IPC catalyst showed the worst performance but
was highly selective to butenes. And the DCPVP and DPU catalysts with
100% conversion produced worse 1-butene selectivity.