Chemistry of ruthenium in cellulose acetate: reactions with CO, H2, O2 and H2O

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0304-5102(93)85038-U

RuCl₃·3H₂O complexes have been incorporated in cellulose acetate (CA) as a dispersion medium using a cosolvent (tetrahydrofuran). The interactions between Ru(III) complexes and CA were examined by infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis (DSC). The reaction chemistry of 10 wt.% ruthenium-containing CA films was investigated by reacting Ru sites with CO, H₂, O₂ and H₂O under mild conditions. Four different Ru-carbonyls formed in CA were characterized; among them, physically adsorbed CO molecules on Ru sites in CA were found to be relatively reactive. Treatment of the Ru-containing CA films with hydrogen (600 torr) at 130 °C produced quite stable ruthenium hydride species, which was confirmed by identifying the corresponding ruthenium deuteride. Partial reduction of Ru(III) to Ru(II) was observed in reactions of the films with CO/H₂O or H₂. The Ru-containing CA films show catalytic activities in oxidation of CO to CO₂ and the water-gas shift reaction under relatively mild conditions.