Oxygen-induced activation of silica supported silver in acrolein hydrogenation

The effect of oxygen pre-treatment of Ag/SiO₂ catalysts used in the acrolein hydrogenation has been investigated from sub-atmospheric (266 mbar) to 10 bar reaction pressure. The pre-treatment has a profound influence on the overall hydrogenation activity, inasmuch the activity increased two- to three-fold. Oxygen pre-treatment also enhanced the selectivity towards the desired allyl alcohol. The beneficial effect of oxygen pre-treatment is ascribed to the formation of electronically modified Ag and/or morphology changes of the nanoparticles as no modification in particle size or dispersion was found