Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) ester, a kind of
environmental-friendly
plasticizer, can be produced by phthalates hydrogenation. However,
the synthesis of catalysts with high activity and selectivity is a
challenge due to the stability of aromatic rings. In this work, a
series of ultrauniform Ru nanoclusters supported by γ-Al2O3 are synthesized for the hydrogenation of diisononyl
phthalate (DINP). Results show that the conversion of DINP and the
selectivity of diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) both
reach 100% at 140 °C and 3 MPa H2 pressure. Diisononyl-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylate
(4H-DINP) and 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate-7-methyloctyl ester are
found; the hydrogenation reaction network of DINP is constructed.
Alkali metal ions adsorbed on the surface of Ru nanoclusters prepared
by the polyol method can stabilize Ru3+-Hδ− species by electrostatic interaction, thus affecting the hydrogenation
activity of the catalyst, following the order of Li+ >
Na+ > K+ > Cs+. Ru-based catalysts
prepared by the polyol method have good prospects for application
in phthalates hydrogenation.