Elsevier

Journal of Catalysis

A mechanistic report of H2O2 and H2O germination from H2 and O2 catalyzed past palladium in an aqueous medium

Abstract

The simultaneous decision of H2 conversion, selectivity for H2O2, and concentration of H2O2 has provided insight into the pathways for the reactions of Hii and Oii over colloidal palladium in an aqueous medium. Reactions typically were carried out at an O two/Htwo ratio of 4 and at 10   °C by introducing the gases at ane atm into a solution that was 0.i N in HCl and 0.01 One thousand in Br ions. Palladium was added to the system as the metal supported on microspheroidal silica. Concentrations of H2O2 approaching 2 wt% have been achieved with selectivities, based on Hii reacted, in excess of xc%. Water is formed both past a parallel reaction between H2 and Oii and by a secondary reduction of HtwoO2 by H2. The parallel reaction is inhibited past the presence of bromine. Hydronium ions can serve as the source of hydrogen and may be involved in a catalytic cycle that includes their reaction with peroxide species to form H2O2.

Introduction

The direct catalytic production of H2O2 from H2 and O2 has been explored equally an alternative to the current commercial procedure that involves the use of alkylanthroquinone and hydroquinone intermediates [i]. The more fundamental aspects of the direct process have been reviewed recently, and it is axiomatic that many issues concerning the reaction mechanism, every bit well as the agile state of the catalyst, remain unresolved, in part because of the complication of the iii phase system [2]. In general, palladium is the nigh effective goad; withal, Landon et al. [iii], [4] take reported that Au/Al2O3 was considerably more active than Pd/Al2O3 in a CHiiiOH/HtwoO liquid stage. But in this item comparison, the latter catalyst was very nonselective for HiiO2, which is an anomaly since the same authors [four] showed that Pd/sulfonated carbon exhibited favorable activity with selectivities in the range of 60–90%. Although the reaction has been carried out in several different liquids [v], emphasis here will be placed on the reaction in an aqueous phase that contains HCl and Br ions with palladium as the goad.

Typically, the palladium is introduced to the organisation as a supported material, but in the presence of Oii and HCl at concentrations ⩾0.ane N, the metal is partially transformed to PdCliv 2− in the aqueous phase, and if Htwo is present, the opposite reaction of Pd(2) back to the metallic state besides occurs [half dozen], [7]. Function of this reduced palladium is in the colloidal state, which is believed to be the most catalytically active class. A model has been proposed in which the H2 and O2 gas, nowadays as small-scale bubbles, is transported across a thin liquid film to the surface of the palladium where reaction occurs. During the form of the reaction the metastable colloid is continuously beingness transferred into palladium black, which is largely inactive. With respect to the reaction mechanism, Raman studies utilizing sixteenO2/18O2 mixtures have shown that isotopic scrambling to produce H2 16OxviiiO does not occur [7]. This ascertainment confirms that diatomic oxygen is a reactive intermediate. The diatomic oxygen is believed to exist as a peroxy species on the palladium.

Since water, rather than hydrogen peroxide, is the end production of the reduction of Oii past Hii, the factors that affect the selectivity for H2O2 go important. It has long been recognized that inorganic acids stabilize H2O2 against further reaction [8]. The work of Choudhary and co-workers [9] has further demonstrated that the halides (Cl or F in this case) may be added via the solid phase (e.yard., as fluorinated γ-Al2Othree). The mechanisms by which the halide influences the overall selectivity appear to be twofold: kickoff, past directing the initial Hii/O2 reaction to H2O2 rather than HiiO, and 2d, by inhibiting the secondary reactions of H2Oii to H2O. With respect to the latter, there is a question equally to whether the H2O2 is reduced by H2 in the organisation H two + H ii O 2 →ii H 2 O or whether H2O2 decomposes according to H ii O 2 H 2 O + i two O 2 . Landon et al. [4] present evidence that favors the role of reaction (1) in the loss of HtwoO2.

The nowadays study was undertaken to accost these and other mechanistic problems. Of particular interest was the possible role of HiiiO+ in a catalytic cycle every bit proposed by Stahl et al. [ten] (see below). The effect of Br on the reaction was explored by simultaneously measuring the rate of H2 consumption and the selectivity for H2Oii germination. Equally a practical affair, optimum conditions with respect to O2/H2 ratio, temperature, and acrid concentration were adamant.

Section snippets

Experimental

The two reactors depicted in Fig. ane were constructed of Pyrex glass, which allows one to visually find the state of the reacting arrangement. Reactor A was open up to the atmosphere at the superlative; whereas, reactor B was closed then that the gas exiting the slurry phase could exist analyzed. Apart from this departure, the two reactors were essentially the same. They had an i.d. of 60 mm and were stirred by an impeller. The temperature was controlled to ±0.1   °C by passing a mixture of ethylene glycol and

The land of the catalyst

Ane of the surprising results from the previous study in this laboratory [six], [7] was that in aqueous solutions ⩾0.one North in HCl the palladium, originally supported on silica, left the back up and was institute in the slurry as PdCl4 ii−, colloidal palladium, and palladium blackness. The palladium blackness was deposited on the frit and was observed in the slurry every bit rather large, loosely bound conglomerates of smaller Pd particles. In the before work Davison grades 03 and 57 silica were used, both of which had

Conclusions

one.

Palladium supported on microspheroidal silica is an effective source of colloidal palladium that is active and selective as a catalyst for the direct conversion of H2 and O2 to HtwoO2.

2.

The presence of Br ions increases the selectivity for HtwoO2, possibly by blocking sites for O2 dissociation with the subsequent formation of H2O.

iii.

No KIE was observed when diverse combinations of Hii, D2, HCl, DCl, HiiO, and D2O were used. This observation is consistent with a transport-limited reaction.

4.

Hydrogen

Acknowledgements

Fiscal back up was provided past a grant from DuPont. Technical assistance in obtaining the optical microscopy results was provided by the Cloth Label Facility, Texas A&M Academy.

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