Kinetic and Mechanistic Analysis of the Hydrodeoxygenation of Propanoic Acid on Pt/SiO₂

Abstract

This manuscript summarizes observations made during the conversion of propanoic acid over Pt/SiO 2 under H 2 -rich environments. Under these conditions, Pt is active for hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation, which leads to the formation of propionaldehyde, 1-propanol, and propane. Pt also facilitates decarbonylation of propanoic acid and propionaldehyde, which forms ethane and CO. The accumulation of CO with increasing residence time poisons the Pt catalyst and makes it difficult to achieve high propanoic acid conversions on practical time scales. During the conversion of propanoic acid on Pt/ SiO 2 , sequential reactions play a critical role in determining product distributions. We resolve their contributions through analysis of rates and selectivities during the conversion of propanoic acid, propionaldehyde, 1-propanol, CO, and CO 2 in various environments. We conclude that the main challenge facing the selective production of partial hydrodeoxygenation productsnamely propionaldehyde and 1-propanolis that one must facilitate dehydroxylation of propanoic acid while avoiding thermodynamically favorable decarbonylation and alcohol hydrogenolysis pathways. Because these side reactions are effectively irreversible under hydrodeoxygenation conditions, this can only be accomplished by suppressing rates of decarbonylation and 1-propanol hydrogenolysis. We reconcile macroscopic trends with a reaction mechanism that includes parallel and sequential reactions occurring during the hydrodeoxygenation of propanoic acid over Pt/SiO 2 .

Machine Learning Accelerated First-Principles Study of the Hydrodeoxygenation of Propanoic Acid

“…Figure illustrates the formation rates toward the various primary products, propionaldehyde, propanol, DCN, and DCX products in the limit of low conversion. Propionaldehyde has the highest formation rate (highest selectivity) on all metal catalysts in the limit of low conversion, which agrees well with our recent experimental study on the HDO of propanoic acid over Pt catalysts . Some DCN products and propanol can also form, but they are negligible compared to propionaldehyde formation.…”

“…While not a doping strategy, Pt(100) is likely also more active than Pt(111) and should display good selectivity to alkanes. The overall reaction trend of carboxylic acid deoxygenation to an aldehyde followed by alcohol or alkane production agrees very well with our recent experimental study of the HDO of propanoic acid over a Pt/SiO 2 catalyst …”

“…Propionaldehyde has the highest formation rate (highest selectivity) on all metal catalysts in the limit of low conversion, which agrees well with our recent experimental study on the HDO of propanoic acid over Pt catalysts. 83 Some DCN products and propanol can also form, but they are negligible compared to propionaldehyde formation. The DCX path is never favored for any metal catalyst.…”

“…The overall reaction trend of carboxylic acid deoxygenation to an aldehyde followed by alcohol or alkane production agrees very well with our recent experimental study of the HDO of propanoic acid over a Pt/SiO 2 catalyst. 83…”