Onion‐like fullerene as a carrier for the synthesis of platinum catalysts and its application to the electrochemical hydrogenation of soybean oil

Abstract

In this study, Pt/OLF catalysts were synthesized using onion‐like fullerenes (OLF) as carriers and applied as cathode catalysts in solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) electrochemical reactors for the preparation of hydrogenated oils. The results show that OLF is a good carrier, and the specific surface area and accumulated pore area of OLF are increased after oxidation by 264.50% and 256.83%, respectively. The loaded Pt forms uniformly dispersed crystalline particles (14.59 nm) on the OLF, and the crystallization is dominated by 111 crystalline planes. In the hydrogenation process, the Pt/OLF catalyst shows lower trienoate selectivity, lower activation energy (21.36 kJ/mol), and higher catalytic activity than the Pt/C catalyst. In addition, the hydrogenated product prepared with the Pt/OLF catalyst has a lower trans fatty acids (TFA) content than that of Pt/C, and the oil crystallization in the product is more uniform, but no difference in flavor is found for the Pt/C‐hydrogenated oil, which is an excellent quality hydrogenated product. Novelty impact statement Preparation of Pt‐based catalyst with good catalytic activity using onion‐like fullerenes (OLF) as carrier. Application of Pt/OLF catalyst to SPE electrochemical hydrogenation reactor to hydrogenated soybean oil. Prepared a hydrogenated product with low trans fatty acids, uniform crystallinity, and good quality.