In Situ Microfocus Chemical Computed Tomography of the Composition of a Single Catalyst Particle During Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene in the Liquid Phase

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201504227
PMID: 26140613

Authors: Stephen Price (Diamond Light Source) , Kalotina Geraki (Diamond Light Source) , Konstantin Ignatyev (Diamond Light Source) , Peter T. Witte (Catalysis Research GCC/PB) , Andrew Beale (University College London) , J Fred Mosselmans (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: Yes

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

State: Published (Approved)
Published: July 2015
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 11043

Abstract: Heterogeneous catalysis performed in the liquid phase is an important type of catalytic process which is rarely studied in situ. Using microfocus X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction computed tomography (μ-XRF-CT, μ-XRD-CT) in combination with X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), we have determined the active state of a Mo-promoted Pt/C catalyst (NanoSelect) for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of nitrobenzene under standard operating conditions. First, μ-XRF-CT and μ-XRD-CT reveal the active state of Pt catalyst to be reduced, noncrystalline, and evenly dispersed across the support surface. Second, imaging of the Pt and Mo distribution reveals they are highly stable on the support and not prone to leaching during the reaction. This study demonstrates the ability of chemical computed tomography to image the nature and spatial distribution of catalysts under reaction conditions.

Journal Keywords: Computed Tomography;Heterogeneous Catalysis;Liquid Phase;Supported Catalysts;X-Ray Microspectroscopy

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Technique Development


Instruments: I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy