Activated carbon aerogel supported copper catalysts for the hydrogenation of methyl acetate to ethanol: effect of KOH activation

Methyl acetate (MA) hydrogenation is crucial for indirect ethanol synthesis through syngas (CO + H2). In our work, activated carbon aerogel supported copper (Cu-ACA) catalysts have been prepared by a conventional impregnation method. The surface area and functional groups of the ACA soared after KOH activation. The highest surface area achieved for the ACA was 2562 m2 g−1. The anchoring effect of micropores and external oxygen-containing groups (OCGs) significantly enhanced the metal–support interaction in catalysts, facilitating the high dispersion of Cu and an enhancement in surface Cu+ species, both of which improved the catalytic activity of catalysts. Cu-ACA-A4 showed the most outstanding catalytic performance, with a MA conversion of 95.2% and an ethanol selectivity of 62.2%, close to the carbon equilibrium selectivity of 66.7%.