Highly Active Amino-Modified MCM-41-Supported Zinc Catalyst for Acetylene Hydration to Acetaldehyde

A simple and effective method was used to prepare amino-functionalized MCM-41 by the chemical grafting method; the active zinc components were immobilized onto the surface of amino-modified MCM-41 as catalyst for the acetylene hydration reaction. The influences from the amino group additions were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Tellersurface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy, temperature programmed desorption of NH3 analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The results showed that the Zn/NH2-MCM-41 catalyst displayed a high catalytic performance, with about 90.0% C2H2 conversion and over 90.0% acetaldehyde selectivity. The analysis results indicate that the introduction of amino groups could enhance the interaction between metal and support as well as enrich the support with more Zn species that were better dispersed. These results provided a basis for the development of other potential supports for the acetylene hydration reaction.