Active carbon supported TiO2–AuCl3/AC catalyst with excellent stability for acetylene hydrochlorination reaction

Abstract In this paper, TiO 2 is added to synthesize TiO 2 –AuCl 3 /AC (activated carbon) catalyst with active carbon as support, and catalytic performance of the obtained TiO 2 –AuCl 3 /AC catalyst is applied in acetylene hydrochlorination reaction. The addition of TiO 2 species significantly enhances the stability of AuCl 3 /AC catalyst. Transmission electron microscope characterization displays the presence of anatase TiO 2 phase in TiO 2 –AuCl 3 /AC catalyst. X-ray diffraction and temperature programmed reduction analysis demonstrate that the addition of TiO 2 species partly inhibits the reduction of Au 3+ to Au 0 in acetylene hydrochlorination process. TiO 2 species in TiO 2 –AuCl 3 /AC catalyst strengthens the adsorption of hydrogen chloride reactant in acetylene hydrochlorination reaction, which is attributed to the strong interaction between Au 3+ active site and TiO 2 species.