Effect of alkali species on performance of MnO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for the hydrogenation of methyl benzoate to benzaldehyde

The effect of alkali species on performance of MnO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for methyl benzoate hydrogenation was investigated in fixed-bed reactor. Doping alkali species on MnO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts enhanced the selectivity of benzaldehyde significantly, toluene and benzyl methyl ether were greatly suppressed. The infrared spectra of adsorbed pyridine adsorption was acquired to study the surface acid properties, the results revealed that doping alkali species weakened the acid strength of MnO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, which lead to restrain from the formation of toluene and benzyl methyl ether.