Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid

Zanella, Elisa; Franchi, Stefano; Jabbarli, Narmin; Barlocco, Ilaria; Stucchi, Marta; Pirola, Carlo

doi:10.3390/catal14070465

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid

by

Elisa Zanella

^*

,

Stefano Franchi

,

Narmin Jabbarli

,

Ilaria Barlocco

,

Marta Stucchi

and

Carlo Pirola

^*

Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Catalysts 2024, 14(7), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070465

Submission received: 31 May 2024 / Revised: 5 July 2024 / Accepted: 16 July 2024 / Published: 19 July 2024

(This article belongs to the Section Catalytic Materials)

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Abstract

The liquid-phase hydrogenation of muconic acid (MA) to produce bio-adipic acid (AdA) is a prominent environmentally friendly chemical process, that can be achieved through two distinct methodologies: catalytic direct hydrogenation using molecular hydrogen (H₂), or catalytic transfer hydrogenation utilizing a hydrogen donor. In this study, both approaches were explored, with formic acid (FA) selected as the hydrogen source for the latter method. Palladium-based catalysts were chosen for these processes. Metal’s nanoparticles (NPs) were supported on high-temperature heat-treated carbon nanofibers (HHT-CNFs) due to their known ability to enhance the stability of this metal catalyst. To assess the impact of support functionalization on catalyst stability, the HHT-CNFs were further functionalized with phosphorus and oxygen to obtain HHT-P and HHT-O, respectively. In the hydrogenation reaction, catalysts supported on functionalized supports exhibited higher catalytic activity and stability compared to Pd/HHT, reaching an AdA yield of about 80% in less than 2 h in batch reactor. The hydrogen-transfer process also yielded promising results, particularly with the 1%Pd/HHT-P catalyst. This work highlights the efficacy of support functionalization in improving catalyst performance, particularly when formic acid is used as a safer and more cost-effective hydrogen donor in the hydrogen-transfer process.

Keywords: catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH); muconic acid; bio-adipic acid; formic acid; hydrogen donor; palladium catalysts; support functionalization

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zanella, E.; Franchi, S.; Jabbarli, N.; Barlocco, I.; Stucchi, M.; Pirola, C. Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid. Catalysts 2024, 14, 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070465

AMA Style

Zanella E, Franchi S, Jabbarli N, Barlocco I, Stucchi M, Pirola C. Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid. Catalysts. 2024; 14(7):465. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070465

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zanella, Elisa, Stefano Franchi, Narmin Jabbarli, Ilaria Barlocco, Marta Stucchi, and Carlo Pirola. 2024. "Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid" Catalysts 14, no. 7: 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070465

APA Style

Zanella, E., Franchi, S., Jabbarli, N., Barlocco, I., Stucchi, M., & Pirola, C. (2024). Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid. Catalysts, 14(7), 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070465

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Effect of Support Functionalization on Catalytic Direct Hydrogenation and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Muconic Acid to Adipic Acid

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