Hydrogenation of methyl propionate over Ru–Pt/AlOOH catalyst: Effect of surface hydroxyl groups on support and solvent

A ruthenium–platinum bimetallic catalyst supported on boehmite was prepared by co-impregnation and hydrothermal reduction and characterized by XRD, TEM and TG–DTG. Reduction time of the catalyst affected the conversion of γ-Al2O3 to boehmite and the specific surface area of the catalyst, and consequently influenced the catalytic performance of the catalyst. Under the same conditions, the Ru–Pt/AlOOH catalyst showed much higher activity and selectivity than the Ru–Pt/γ-Al2O3 in aqueous hydrogenation of methyl propionate. The selectivity to 1-propanol of 97.8% could be obtained at methyl propionate conversion of 89.1% over Ru–Pt/AlOOH at 453 K under 5 MPa of H2 for 6 h. It is postulated that the high performance of this novel catalyst is related to the cooperation of the hydroxyl groups of support surface and water solvent.