Efficient Cu/SiO2 catalysts for methyl glycolate synthesis via dimethyl oxalate hydrogenation under atmospheric pressure

Abstract

An innovative gel-hydrothermal (Gel-HT) method was developed to synthesize Cu/SiO₂ catalysts with excellent catalytic activity for the selective hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) to methyl glycolate (MG). A series of characterization techniques, including N₂ physisorption–desorption, N₂O titration, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, H₂ temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, H₂ temperature-programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to elucidate the source of catalyst activity. The catalyst 35% Gel-HT achieved 92.5% DMO conversion and 84.5% MG selectivity at 0.1 MPa and 170 °C, and the catalyst maintained stable performance for over 5000 h. The results of the characterization and activity tests indicated that the activation capacity of hydrogen is a critical factor controlling the atmospheric pressure activity of the catalysts.