Gas phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde over platinum supported on oxidized carbon black

The effect of a previous oxidation treatment of the carbonaceous support on the catalytic behavior of platinum in the gas phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde (trans-2-butenal) over Pt/carbon black catalysts has been analyzed. Two heat-treated carbon blacks, one of them subjected to an oxidizing treatment with hydrogen peroxide, have been used as supports for platinum, which was introduced using H2PtCl6 as metal precursor. The catalysts were characterized by H-2 chemisorption at room temperature and temperature-programmed desorption, and their catalytic behavior in the gas phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde was determined under differential conditions. Both the specific catalytic activity and the selectivity towards the formation of the unsaturated alcohol (crotyl alcohol) in the title reaction have been found to be higher for the catalyst with the oxidized support, and they are enhanced after reduction at increasing temperatures. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.