Ceria-Based Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation Reactions: A Critical Review

The catalytic behaviour of ceria (cerium (IV) Oxide; CeO2) incorporated with trace metals, metallic particles or mixed support systems has been studied extensively for various heterogeneous reactions. Moreover, unique redox properties and structural defects have made ceria a desirable choice for selective hydrogenation reactions. This paper provides the first review of studies focusing on the performance of ceria in selective catalytic hydrogenation. The review covers the fundamentals, economic benefits, and application of ceria in the aforementioned reaction, highlighting the theoretical basis and importance of non-stoichiometric forms of ceria (CeO2-x). We have contrasted the effect of operational parameters and molecular alterations as documented in the literature, and constructed the mechanistic and kinetic insights on the heterogeneous hydrogenation over ceria. The remarks in this review provide necessary future outlooks, recommendations, and plausaible improvements on the catalytic performance of ceria.