Optimization of manganese content by high-throughput experimentation of Pt/WO_x-ZrO₂-Mn catalysts

A library of Pt/WO_x-ZrO₂-Mn catalysts was developed in order to optimize the manganese content in this catalytic system for the isomerization of n-hexane. The catalysts were synthesized, characterized and screened using high-throughput experimentation (HTE) techniques. The catalysts were prepared by surfactant-assisted coprecipitation whereas the characterization was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and UV-vis spectroscopy. For this second screening, several catalysts with different manganese contents were prepared; it was found that the incorporation of Mn modifies the anchorage of tungsten on the zirconia surface, thus improving its catalytic properties, in terms of the n-hexane conversion and selectivity, depending on the catalyst composition. These results suggest that this methodology allows the optimization of manganese and tungsten contents on these solid catalysts.