CATALYTIC PERFORMANCE IN CO HYDROGENATION OVER SIO2-SUPPORTED RU-M (M=CO, FE, MO, NI, RH, MN AND CR) BIMETALLIC CLUSTER DERIVED CATALYSTS

The bimetallic Ru-M (M = Co, Fe, Ni, Mo, Rh, Cr, Mn) catalysts were prepared from SiO2-supported bimetallic carbonyl clusters, and it was found that the Ru-Co, Ru-Fe and Ru-Mo bimetallic carbonyl cluster-derived catalysts showed higher activity and selectivity for oxygenates such as C1-C5 alcohols in CO hydrogenation, in contrast to catalysts prepared from SiO2-supported homometallic Ru and Co carbonyl clusters. In situ FT-IR studies revealed that the bands at 1584 and 1555 cm-1 species were intermediates to produce methanol and higher oxygenates, and at higher temperatures the 1584 cm-1 species could react with alkyl to form 1555 cm-1 species. By the surface chemical reaction and the IR study of isotopic molecules, it was suggested that 1584 and 1555 cm-1 were assigned to surface formyl and acetyl species.