A highly efficient and selective catalyst for liquid phase hydrogenation of maleic anhydride to butyric acid

A highly efficient Pd/TiO2 catalyst for the liquid phase hydrogenation of maleic anhydride has been prepared by sol-gel method and super critical fluid of ethanol drying (SCFE) was applied. Over Pd/TiO2 catalyst prepared by sol-gel, 93.5% yield to butyric acid and 100% conversion of maleic anhydride were obtained at 240 °C, 3 MPa. The high conversion of maleic anhydride and high yield towards butyric acid were attributed to the strong adsorption of MA or SAH species via the CO bond in di-σ mode on interfacial Pd-TiOx site which was induced by the high temperature reduction step. Meanwhile, the reaction temperature and the interaction between metal and support has an obvious influence on the yield of BA.