Modified clays, PILC’s, applied in catalysis

Abstract

In this work, the capability of new materials PILC?s synthesized from montmorillonite as support for catalysts based on Rh or Sn promoted Rh has been studied. Rh based catalysts were synthesized by hydrogen reduction at atmospheric pressure for a cationic organo-metallic rhodium complex. The influence of the supports in the incorporation of the active phase has been studied. The catalysts have been tested in the hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde in the vapor phase at atmospheric pressure, analyzing the effect of some working parameters in the formation of the reaction products, namely the temperature of metal reduction, the reaction temperature, and the addition of Sn as a promoter. For comparative purposes, natural clay and commercial silica have also been used as supports. Both the natural clays and the PILC?s materials have resulted adequate supports for the Rh catalysts. The addition of Sn as a promoter modifies the selectivity leading to higher conversion towards crotyl alcohol.