Abstract: A series of Cu-Zn-Zr catalysts were synthesized by a co-precipitation method, and their catalytic performance for the selective hydrogenation of methyl benzoate to benzyl alcohol was experimentally evaluated. When the molar ratio of Cu/Zn/Zr was controlled at 5/6/4 and calcined at 650 ℃, the catalyst exhibited particularly prominent catalytic performance. In order to optimize the reaction conditions of methyl benzoate hydrogenation to benzyl alcohol, the effects of reaction temperature, reaction pressure and reaction time on the reaction performance were investigated in a high-pressure stirred tank. The results revealed that the conversion rate of methyl benzoate reached 88.1% and the selectivity for benzyl alcohol reached 95.21% at the conditions of a reaction temperature of 160 ℃, a pressure of 7 MPa and a reaction time of 10 h. The catalysts were characterized by N₂-adsorption/desorption, XRD, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD, XPS and TEM, it was found that the introduction of Zr element significantly enhanced the selectivity for benzyl alcohol, and the high dispersion of metal copper nanoparticles beneficial to the activity and stability of the catalyst. The weak acidity of the catalyst surface favored the enhancement of catalytic activity. The synergy of these factors has led to the excellent performance of the catalysts in the methyl benzoate ethanol reaction.

Key words: Cu-Zn-Zr catalyst, selective hydrogenation, methyl benzoate, benzyl alcohol