Hydrogenation of succinic acid over supported rhenium catalysts prepared by the microwave-assisted thermolytic method

A series of metallic Re/C catalysts were prepared with the microwave-assisted thermolytic method by using decacarbonyldirhenium [Re-2(CO)(10)] as a precursor for the hydrogenation of succinic acid. The results of FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRD, HRTEM, ICP, TPR and CO chemical adsorption showed that the as-prepared catalysts had well-dispersed rhenium nanoparticles on activated carbon. Changing irradiation time or rhenium loadings could effectively adjust the properties of Re/C catalysts which exhibited good catalytic performance for the hydrogenation of succinic acid. There were plenty of active sites on Re/C catalysts for the high concentration hydrogenation of succinic acid, and increasing temperature or pressure improved catalytic activity at a defined scope. From the kinetic study of succinic acid catalytic hydrogenation, there was a certain converting relationship between the different intermediates and the product distribution which could be controlled by variation of reaction time.