Ru-Sn-BAl2O3 Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of Methyl Oleate: Influence of the RuSn Ratio

Abstract EN

This study focuses on the influence of the Ru/Sn ratio on the catalytic hydrogenation of methyl oleate to oleyl alcohol using Ru-Sn-B catalysts, notably on the catalytic activity and selectivity.

Sn addition acts positively over the oleyl selectivity by reducing the rates of C=O and C=C saturation but also decreases the global activity.

The catalyst with the highest activity and selectivity towards oleyl alcohol is Ru(1%)-Sn(2%)-B/Al2O3.

At a low Sn loading (0.5%) the catalyst has high activity for hydrogenation of the carbonyl group and the carbon-carbon double bond.

As a consequence stearyl alcohol is produced with high yield.

At a high Sn content (4%) the catalyst has lower selectivity to oleyl alcohol due to its low capacity for hydrogenating the carbonyl group.

However it has enough activity for hydrogenating the C=C double bonds to produce the saturated methyl ester.