Gas Phase Hydrogenation of Maleic Anhydride to γ-Butyrolactone by Cu–Zn–Ce Catalyst in the Presence of n-Butanol

Abstract

A series of Cu–Zn–Ce catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, and N₂ adsorption. The catalytic activities of the Cu–Zn–Ce catalysts in gas phase hydrogenation of maleic anhydride in the presence of n-butanol were studied at 220–280 °C and 1 MPa. The conversion of maleic anhydride was more than 97%. After reduction, CuO species present in the calcined Cu–Zn–Ce catalysts were converted to metallic copper (Cu°). The presence of ZnO in the Cu–Zn–Ce catalysts was beneficial to stabilizing the catalytic activity in maleic anhydride hydrogenation to γ-butyrolactone. At the same time, n-butanol was dehydrogenated to butyl aldehyde, then to butyl butyrate via reactions, such as disproportionation and esterification. Cu–Zn–Ce catalysts are beneficial to the H₂ compensation in the coupling process of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation.