A FTIR STUDY OF ETHYLENE OXIDATION ON AN RU/ZNO SYSTEM

The interaction of ethylene with a highly dispersed and oxidized Ru/ZnO catalyst has been studied at room temperature (RT) by FTIR spectroscopy. A fast oxidative reaction at RT produces a glycolate-like species strongly adsorbed on the surface, and at the same time the depletion of a strong and narrow band assigned to an Ru=O surface group. The assignment of the spectrum of a C2H4O2 complex, characterized by two intense bands at 1035 and 890 cm-1 and by 10 other bands in the range 3000-700 cm-1, is performed on the basis of a C2nu symmetry and confirmed by C2D4 oxidation data; this assignment is performed by comparison of our spectra with the literature data for ethylene glycol and related complexes. A long oxidative reaction at RT with formation of formate and carboxylate-like species at the expense of the glycolate was also observed.