Articolo in rivista, 2022, ENG, 10.3390/catal12010072

Glycerol Hydrogenolysis to 1,2-Propanediol over Novel Cu/ZrO<inf>2</inf> Catalysts

Luciani, Giuseppina; Ruoppolo, Giovanna; Landi, Gianluca; Gargiulo, Valentina; Alfè, Michela; Di Benedetto, Almerinda

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

Glycerol is the main by-product of biodiesel production; its upgrading to more valuable products is a demanding issue. Hydrogenolysis to 1,2-propanediol is one of the most interesting processes among the possible upgrading routes. In this study, we propose novel copper/zirconia catalysts prepared by advanced preparation methods, including copper deposition via metal-organic framework (MOF) and support preparation via the sol-gel route. The catalysts were characterized by N physisorption, X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, H-TPR and NH-TPD analyses and tested in a commercial batch reactor. The catalyst prepared by copper deposition via MOF decomposition onto commercial zirconia showed the best catalytic performance, reaching 75% yield. The improved catalytic performance was assigned to a proper combination of redox and acid properties. In particular, a non-negligible fraction of cuprous oxide and of weak acid sites seems fundamental to preferentially activate the selective pathway. In particular, these features avoid the overhydrogenolysis of 1,2-propanediol to 1-propanol and enhance glycerol dehydration to hydroxyacetone and the successive hydrogenation of hydroxyacetone to 1,2-propanediol.

Catalysts 12 (1)

Keywords

1,2-propanediol, Biodiesel, Copper, Glycerol, Hydrogenolysis, MOF, MOF-mediated synthesis route (MOFMS), Sol-gel, Zirconia

CNR authors

Ruoppolo Giovanna, Alfe Michela, Landi Gianluca, Gargiulo Valentina

CNR institutes

STEMS – Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie per l'Energia e la Mobilità Sostenibili