Improving the Hydrogenation Performance of Nano‐Catalysts by Constructing a Cavity‐Constrained Fluidized System

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Abstract
Nano‐catalysts demonstrate exceptional performance in heterogeneous reactions, yet their potential is often underutilized due to a lack of attention to engineering design. In this study, an innovative encapsulated structure is presented for nano‐catalysts and a corresponding catalytic system. Using an oil‐in‐water droplet strategy, millimeter‐sized hollow spherical alumina (Al 2 O 3 ‐HS) is fabricated with an average diameter of ≈3 mm and a hollow void size of ≈1 mm. This approach enables the one‐step encapsulation of nanoscale Pd/Al 2 O 3 within the Al 2 O 3 ‐HS. The resulting assembly is immobilized within a tubular reactor for the hydrogenation of 2‐ethylanthraquinone, with hydrogen introduced from the bottom of the reactor. Remarkably, the encapsulated catalyst achieved twice the H 2 O 2 productivity of conventional supported catalysts. This enhancement is attributed to the cavity‐constrained fluidization behavior of Pd/Al 2 O 3 within the hollow alumina spheres. The design introduces a novel catalytic system that combines shell‐immobilization with the fluidization of encapsulated nano‐catalysts. As the gas velocity exceeds the minimum fluidization velocity, the Pd/Al 2 O 3 particles remain highly accessible while allowing efficient gas and product flow. This hybrid approach integrates the advantages of fixed‐bed and fluidized‐bed systems, offering a promising solution to the technical challenges limiting the industrial application of nano‐catalysts.
Funding Information
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFA1500121)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (22078007)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (22408361)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (U23B20164)

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