Platinum supported on reduced graphene oxide as a catalyst for the electrochemical hydrogenation of soybean oils

Platinum nanoparticles anchored over graphene nanocomposites (Pt/Gr) were synthesized and used for the investigation of the electrochemical hydrogenation of soybean oils. By exploiting Pt/Gr nanocomposites as cathode catalysts of a membrane electrode assembly, a promising solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) reactor was fabricated. The obtained Pt/Gr nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which can definitely show that Pt nanoparticles successfully formed on graphene and were well-distributed on the surface of graphene sheets. The further electrochemical characterizations demonstrated that Pt/Gr has undoubtedly higher electrocatalytic activity and stability compared to the commercial Vulcan XC-72 supported Pt nanoparticles; this outcome will lead to further application as a new electrode material in the SPE reactor. The trans fatty acid content of the obtained hydrogenated soybean oil (IV: 111.3 g I-2/100 g oil) using Pt/Gr as the cathode catalyst in the SPE reactor was only 1.53%. To achieve a similar IV, the usage of Pt was much less when graphene was selected as a catalyst carrier compared to Vulcan XC-72. The changes in the fatty acid components and the hydrogenated selectivity of octadecenoic acids were also discussed.