Study of catalytic activity of ceria nanorods using batch reactor and advanced surface characterization of the catalyst

• Grant number: 23/07570-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Italo Odone Mazali
• Grantee: Gustavo Damasceno Lima de Andrade
• Supervisor: Antonio Leyva-Pérez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia (UPV), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/12491-8 - In situ investigation of the catalytic activity of cerium (IV) oxide nanoparticles over alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds using Raman spectroscopy, BP.IC

Abstract

The production of allylic alcohols is a process of significant interest across various sectors of the chemical industry. However, current methods for obtaining allylic alcohols are achieved through non-sustainable routes. The hydrogenation of ±,²-unsaturated carbonyls via heterogeneous catalysis can present a sustainable solution for this problem. On the other hand, this reaction presents significant challenges, such as the difficulty in selectively hydrogenating only the carbonyl group while the C=C double bond competes with this reaction. It has recently been discovered that cerium oxide nanorods, an emerging catalyst, can promote the selective hydrogenation of a specific ±,²-unsaturated. This project proposes a study of the catalytic activity of such material in the hydrogenation of different ±,²-unsaturated carbonyls using a batch reactor, to allow the assessment of various important properties, such as turnover numbers and selectivity. The reaction will also be monitored by in situ DRIFTS, for a better understanding of the mechanism, and, additionally, the catalyst will also be characterized by XPS to provide comprehensive insights into the presence of oxygen vacancies in its surface. Finally, other pertinent reactions will also be tested with the catalyst, to verify its potential as a chemical valorization tool. These experiments shall be carried at ITQ, in the Polytechnical University of Valencia, with a research group specialized in catalysis for sustainable chemistry. It is anticipated that the proposed internship will lead to suggestions for enhancing the catalytic system, enabling the optimal utilization of cerium oxide's capabilities. (AU)