Hydrogenation of succinic acid to γ-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol over mesoporous rhenium–copper–carbon composite catalyst

• A mesoporous rhenium–copper–carbon composite catalyst (Re–Cu–MC) was prepared.
• Liquid-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid to GBL and BDO was conducted.
• Metal particle size played an important role in determining the catalytic performance.
• Yield for GBL and BDO increased with decreasing metal particle size.

A mesoporous rhenium–copper–carbon composite catalyst (Re–Cu–MC) was prepared by a facile single-step surfactant-templating method. For comparison, a series of mesoporous carbon-supported catalysts (Re/Cu–MC, Cu/Re–MC, and Re–Cu/MC) were also prepared. The catalysts were applied to the liquid-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid to γ-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO). The effect of preparation method on the physicochemical properties and catalytic activities of the catalysts was investigated. It was found that the catalysts based on metal–carbon composite (Re–Cu–MC, Re/Cu–MC, and Cu/Re–MC) were favorable for enhancing textural properties and metal–support interaction of the catalysts. Surface atomic ratios of metal species (Re/C and Cu/C) on the catalyst surface increased with increasing metal–support interaction. Yield for GBL and BDO increased with decreasing average metal particle size of the catalysts. It was revealed that metal particle size of the catalysts served as a key factor determining the catalytic activity and stability in the reaction. Among the catalysts tested, Re–Cu–MC catalyst with the smallest average metal particle size showed the best catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of succinic acid to GBL and BDO.

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