Promotional effect of indium on Cu/SiO2 catalysts for the hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to ethylene glycol

CuIn/SiO 2 with 1.0 wt% indium shows the best catalytic performance for DMO hydrogenation to EG. The synergistic effect of Cu 0 –Cu + –CuIn alloy in activating H 2 molecules and carbonyl bonds is elucidated.