Characterization and hydrogenation of methyl oleate over Ru/TiO2, Ru–Sn/TiO2 catalysts

Abstract The hydrogenation of methyl oleate over 2%Ru/TiO 2 , 4.7%Sn/TiO 2 and 2%Ru–4.7%Sn–TiO 2 catalysts was studied. The catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. The characterization techniques used were: (i) specific surface area (B.E.T. method); (ii) pore volume and mean pore diameter; (iii) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); (iv) temperature programed reduction (TPR); (v) X-ray diffraction (DRX); and (vi) scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the presence of tin increases the difficulty of the ruthenium reduction, evidencing a possible metal–metal interaction. However, tin addition to the TiO 2 and the catalysts calcinations did not significantly influence the values obtained for the surface area and mean pore diameter. The DRX analyses showed that the catalysts have a crystalline structure, mostly in the anatase form. The metal-support interaction occurred probably due to the formation of RuTi of Ru/TiO 2 catalyst. In Ru–Sn/TiO 2 catalyst, the metal–metal interaction occurs between ruthenium and tin, resulting in Ru 3 Sn 7 . The catalysts reaction revealed that tin addition in ruthenium affects the activity of catalyst considerably in the hydrogenation of methyl oleate reaction. However, the activity decrease is accompanied by a considerable increase of alcohols yield, in particular of unsaturated alcohols.