Catalytic conversion of sorbitol to gasoline-ranged products without external hydrogen over Pt-modified Ir-ReO x /SiO 2

Deoxygenation of sorbitol was carried out over a Pt-modified Ir-ReOx/SiO2 catalyst in biphasic solvent system (n-decane + H2O) without external hydrogen. Good yield of gasoline-ranged products was obtained including C5–C6 alkanes and C2–C6 mono-functionalized compounds such as ketones, alcohols, cyclic ethers and carboxylic acids. The Pt(3 wt%)-Ir-ReOx/SiO2 catalyst showed the best performance in the production of gasoline-ranged products. The maximum yield of gasoline-ranged products was 42%. The distribution of the products can be tuned by the addition of HZSM-5. The main products were C5–C6 alkanes with addition of HZSM-5 while the main products were C2–C6 mono-functionalized compounds without addition of HZSM-5. Characterizations such as TPR, XRD, TEM, XANES, EXAFS, CO adsorption were performed. The results demonstrated that the Pt-Ir-ReOx/SiO2 catalyst showed the structure of Pt-Ir alloy particles partially covered with ReOx species. The number of surface Pt atoms in Pt(3)-Ir-ReOx/SiO2 was larger than that of Pt/SiO2 or Pt-ReOx/SiO2 because of the small size of Pt-Ir alloy particles. The large number of surface Pt atoms and the synergetic effect of Pt, Ir and ReOx species make the catalyst efficiently generate hydrogen by aqueous phase reforming of sorbitol, and the generated hydrogen is consumed in the hydrogenolysis C O bonds.