Short communicationAcetonitrile via CO hydrogenation in the presence of NH3

•CO hydrogenation activity over a stable FeRh alloy•Activity and selectivity measurements in the absence and presence of ammonia with 2D GC×GC•HRTEM study of the catalyst in the fresh, reduced and sent state

We are presenting the use of an alumina supported FeRh alloy catalyst for the formation of nitrogen containing compounds via the CO hydrogenation in the presence of ammonia. In contrast to previous studies on either similar catalyst systems or on an iron-based catalyst, the prepared FeRh material displays a high selectivity to a single nitrogen-containing compound, acetonitrile. The formation of acetonitrile occurs at the expense of oxygenates, mostly ethanol, which form in the absence of ammonia.

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