TiO2 and Pd/TiO2 as Photocatalysts for Hydrogenation of Ketones and Perspective of Membrane Application

Photocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of aromatic and aliphaticketones by using TiO2 and home-made TiO2 doped with palladium by deposition-precipitation method (Pd/TiO2) in a batch reactor under UV light has been studied. Different photocatalytic tests have been performed by using ethanol as electron and hydrogen donor and water/ethanol solution to obtain data on the reaction parameters. The results found, using the ethanol solution, showed acetophenone conversion, selectivity and yield higher than in the in water/ethanol solution (50/50 v/v). The highest acetophenone conversion was obtained by using Pd/TiO2 under UV light. For butanone the best results (as conversion, selectivity and yield) were obtained by using Pd/TiO2.The values of butanone conversion and the yield to butanol increased almost six times more than the commercial TiO2. Pure ethanol was better than the water-formic acid as both solvent and electron-hydrogen donor. Some considerations on using in perspective these data on a photocatalytic membrane reactor are also reported.