Highly Active Ni/SiO2 Catalyst Prepared Through Citric Acid-Assisted Impregnation for the Hydrogenation of Acetoin to 2,3-Butanediol

The vapor-phase hydrogenation of acetoin (AC) to 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) was investigated over SiO2-supported Ni (Ni/SiO2) catalysts prepared by impregnation assisted with organic additives. Among 14 catalysts with different organic additives, the Ni/SiO2 prepared with citric acid (CA) was found to show the highest activity. The Ni/SiO2 catalyst prepared with CA has a much higher hydrogenation ability for AC and a higher selectivity to 2,3-BDO than typical noble metal catalysts. In addition, it was preferable that the hydrogenation of AC was conducted at a low temperature in the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation equilibrium between AC and 2,3-BDO to provide 2,3-BDO selectively.