Synergistic effect between CeO2 and Cu for ethylene carbonate hydrogenation

Cu–CeO2/C composite catalysts with porous structure were prepared by a microwave-assisted carbonization–impregnation method, which demonstrated a significant performance enhancement for the selective hydrogenation of ethylene carbonate. It was shown by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, XPS and H2-TPR that Cu–CeO2/C catalysts with appropriate copper-ceria interactions improving the dispersion of copper particles and providing a higher ratio of Cu+/(Cu+  + Cu0) and more oxygen vacancies on the surface. These interactions resulted in an enhanced adsorption of ethylene carbonate and a high hydrogenation activity. The effect of significant operating conditions such as reaction temperature, H2 pressure and substrate ratio on the EC hydrogenation activity over the Cu–CeO2/C catalyst was also investigated to predict the optimal conditions to achieve maximum activity in this process.