Synthesis of high-surface-area micro/mesoporous ZnAl2O4 catalyst support and application in selective hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene

Abstract

High-surface-area ZnAl 2 O 4 with micro/mesoporous frameworks was synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal approach without using any surfactants or post-treatment. The results revealed that the textural properties of micro/mesoporous ZnAl 2 O 4 were tuned by changing alcohol/water mixture solvents used in solvothermal synthesis and Ag nanoparticles were dispersed uniformly on the surface of ZnAl 2 O 4 supports. Especially, the supported Ag catalyst on the microporous ZnAl 2 O 4 synthesized in methanol/water solvent exhibited good catalytic performance for liquid phase selective hydrogenation of o -chloronitrobenzene to o -chloroaniline, owing to the high dispersion of Ag nanoparticles and the strong metal-support interaction. ► Micro/mesoporous ZnAl 2 O 4 was fabricated via one-pot solvothermal approach. ► The textural properties of ZnAl 2 O 4 were tuned by changing alcohol/water solvents. ► Ag nanoparticles could be dispersed uniformly and stably on the ZnAl 2 O 4 supports. ► Supported catalysts exhibited good catalytic performance in selective hydrogenation.