Enhancing the Efficiency of Gas-Liquid-Solid Reactions Using a Monolithic Microhoneycomb Catalyst

ABSTRACT Monolithic catalysts have attracted attention as a substitute for particulate catalyst beds in gas-liquid-solid three-phase reactions. In this work, carbon gel monoliths with a microhoneycomb structure (carbon gel microhoneycombs, CMHs) were synthesized, and Pt particles with an average particle diameter of 3.0 nm were supported on them in a highly dispersed state through the incipient wetness method. In addition, it was confirmed that the supported Pt shows a high resistance to sintering. Hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol was carried out in order to evaluate the catalytic activity of Pt/CMHs in three-phase reactions. As a result, Pt/CMHs showed a high catalytic activity even at ambient temperature and normal pressure. Furthermore, the hydrogenation reaction significantly proceeded even when hydrogen was provided at the minimum flow rate required to complete the reaction. Since Pt/CMHs showed higher reaction activity than the same catalyst in the form of particles, it was concluded that the efficiency of three-phase reactions can be significantly improved by using monolithic catalysts with a microhoneycomb structure.