Performance of Au/FeOx–TiO2 catalyst for liquid phase selective hydrogenation of phthalic anhydride to phthalide

Gold catalysts supported on FeOx–TiO2 with various Fe2O3 contents were prepared by deposition–precipitation method and used for phthalic anhydride hydrogenation to phthalide. The effect of Fe2O3 on the physico-chemical property and the performance of Au/TiO2 were investigated. The reaction conditions were optimized. Adding 5 wt.% Fe2O3 on Au/TiO2 could enhance the activity and stability, which was contributed to the increase in the strength of the catalyst structure and the decrease in the loss of gold from catalyst. Using Au/5%FeOx–TiO2, phthalic anhydride conversion and phthalide selectivity reached 95.4% and 94.5%, respectively, at 190 °C and 3.0 MPa H2 for 7 h.