Research progress on the copper-based catalyst design for dimethyl oxalate hydrogenation to ethylene glycol

In this paper, the research progress of Cu-based catalyst and the activity enhancement strategies in the hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) to ethylene glycol (EG) was reviewed. As a green and economical ethylene glycol production path, the core of DMO hydrogenation of EG lies in the rational design and optimization of catalysts. This paper first introduces the background of the DMO hydrogenation system EG significance and the important effect of Cu-based catalyst in the reaction, particularly emphasizing the coordination with the Cu⁺−Cu⁰ species catalytic effect. Then, many factors affecting the activity of Cu-based catalysts were analyzed in detail, including the equilibrium effect between Cu⁰ and Cu⁺ species, the surface dispersion of Cu species, the interaction between metal and support, and the morphology effect of the catalyst. Regarding strategies for improving catalyst performance, this paper summarized effective measures such as optimizing support structure, adding promoters and optimizing preparation methods, and demonstrated the practical application effects of these strategies through representative catalyst examples. In addition, this paper also discusses the complex relationship between the influencing factors and catalyst performance. It points out the key directions for future research, with in-depth exploration of the correlation between catalyst structure and performance, the development of new catalysts, and the application of machine learning and big data technology in the catalyst research and development. In summary, this paper provides comprehensive theoretical guidance and practical reference for the performance optimization of Cu-based catalysts for DMO hydrogenation to EG.