Electronic and Structural Requisites for Catalytic Activity in Copper-Ruthenium Catalysts

Abstract

A system made by combining two non-alloying metals, ruthenium and copper, using alumina as a support was studied. This bimetallic supported catalyst has been used mainly in hydrogenolysis, dehydrogenation and oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons. The samples were characterized by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometry (EPR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). These two molecular techniques are ideal for studying the electronic and structural changes of the samples at different temperatures and concentrations. Catalytic reactions were performed using the catalyst in the reduced and non-reduced forms on a series of catalytic hydrogenations. A correlation between the electronic, structural and catalytic properties has been made. A correlation of catalytic process to molecular phenomena has yield a better understanding of the catalytic site.