CNTs-promoted Co-Cu Catalyst for Efficient Synthesis of Cinnamyl Alcohol from Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde

With types of in-house-synthesized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), highly active CNT-promoted Co-Cu catalysts, symbolized as Co_iCu_j-x%CNTs (mass fraction) were prepared by the co-precipitation method from nitrate salts of the corresponding metallic components. Their catalytic performances for the cinnamyl alcohol synthesis from the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde were studied and compared with the corresponding CNT-free coprecipitated catalyst of Co_iCu_j mixed oxide. It was shown that the appropriate incorporation of a minor amount of the CNTs into Co_iCu_j oxide could significantly increase the catalytic activity for cinnamyl alcohol synthesis. Under the pressure of 5.0 MPa, the highest yield of cinnamyl alcohol reaches 94.4% with selectivity of 98.7% for the catalyst Co₂-Cu₁-10.0%CNTs. The addition of an appropriate amount of CNT can promote the highly dispersed catalyst and promote the recovery of the catalyst. The results show that carbon nanotube is an excellent accelerator, and its properties for unique hydrogen absorption play important roles in promoting the synthesis of cinnamyl alcohol.