TiO2-supported Ni-Sn as an effective hydrogenation catalyst for aqueous acetic acid to ethanol

Various Ni and Ni-Sn catalysts supported on TiO2 were prepared and the catalytic activities were evaluated for ethanol formation from aqueous acetic acid. Although catalytic activities of the Ni/TiO2 catalysts were limited, the addition of Sn improved the activity dramatically, and the optimum Ni/Sn ratio was approximately 1:1 (w/w). SnO2, the precursor of Sn, could not be reduced into metal Sn in pure form but did reduce into Ni-Sn alloys in...