An Attempt to Activate Silica Supported Ruthenium Catalyst Abbreviating Reduction Procedure; Evaluation of Oxidation State of Ruthenium Species by Hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene

Abstract

Ruthenium based industrial catalysts have been manufactured exclusively using ruthenium chloride as RuCl 3 ･nH 2 O which shows water soluble properties. Activation process, usually hydrogenation, is required to remove chlorine and obtain low oxidation state of ruthenium species which gives excellent activity and selectivity. Recently, for instance, small packaged co-generation system equipped with a PEM-FC (polymer electrode membrane -fuel cell) has been noticeable technology, therefore, the way to obtain instantly active state of catalyst at startup stage in the co-generation system becomes important. In this study, when the precursor of Ru/SiO 2 catalyst obtained by conventional impregnation was soaked in the diluted aqueous ammonia, the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene rapidly proceeded on the catalyst abbreviating reduction procedure. The conversion of 1,3-butadiene on the catalyst was closely related to the existence of the deeply reduced ruthenium species on carrier such as silica. Thus the catalyst treated with aqueous ammonia gave ruthenium species with low oxidation state despite having abbreviated reduction procedure.