From Basic Research on Supported-Metal Catalysts to their Practical Applications for Reduction of Food Waste

Abstract

Abstract Supported metal catalysts are one of the most important heterogeneous catalysts, and they are widely used in chemical processes such as naphtha reforming, purification of exhaust gas from automobiles and so on. However, rational design of supported metal catalysts is still a target in heterogeneous catalysis. The author had a hypothesis that metal nanoparticles in ordered pores of zeolite or mesoporous silica may exhibit novel catalytic properties. Based on this idea, we used micropores of zeolites to accommodate metal carbonyl clusters, and then mesoporous silica to prepare metal nanoparticles. First, we studied ship-in-bottle synthesis of Rh carbonyl clusters in zeolite and its reactivity. Rh6(CO)16 was synthesized in NaY zeolite accompanied with formation of a mononuclear Rh(CO)2, which acted as a carrier of 13CO in 12CO-13CO exchange reaction. Then we worked on synthesis of platinum nanoparticles in mesoporous silica, and found that high activity in preferential oxidation of CO in hydrogen and in low-temperature oxidation of ethylene. The high catalytic performance in ethylene oxidation has led to practical application of platinum/silica catalysts for preservation of fruits and vegetables, resulting in reduction of food waste. This article describes the development process of this research.