Ruthenium Nanoparticles in Nanoporous Alumina Membranes: Preparation, Characterization and Catalytic Properties

Ruthenium nanoparticles included in alumina membranes have been prepared either by dihydrogen decomposition of the complex Ru(COD)(COT) (COD = 1, 5‐cyclooctadiene; COT = 1, 3, 5‐cyclooctatriene) to give pre‐prepared colloidal solutions which were further used to fill the pores of nanoporous alumina membranes by vacuum induction, or by in situ decomposition. These hybrid systems were tested in the hydrogenation of 1, 3‐butadiene in the gas phase. The use of Ruthenium loaded membranes resulted in considerably increased activities compared with grinded samples.