Catalysis with ceria nanocrystals: Bio-oil model compound ketonization

•Shape selective ceria nanocrystals were synthesized.•The nanoparticles were examined as catalysts in the ketonization of acetic acid.•No clear specific connection between shape and activity was determined. The problems associated with the high content of organic acids present in bio-oil can potentially be alleviated through the use of the ketonization reaction. While there have been previous reports that ketonization reactions are sensitive to the surface morphology of the respective catalyst, these studies have largely been performed in idealized conditions. Here, shape selective ceria nanocatalysts were synthesized and examined in both condensed and vapor phase ketonization reactions with the model bio-oil compound, acetic acid. It was found that in lower temperature (503K) condensed-phase conditions the morphology of the catalyst was of less importance due to crystal disruption from metal carboxylate formation. However, the bulk structure was maintained to a greater extent in the higher temperature (623K) vapor phase conditions. This work demonstrated that surface morphology of the ceria catalyst did not play a significant role in the ketonization reaction.