Glycerol Hydrogenolysis to 1,2-Propanediol over Novel Cu/ZrO2 Catalysts

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 N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, H2-TPR and NH3-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.

Heterogeneous Iron Catalyst Fe/SBA-15 towards sp3 C-O bond activation in the absence of base and additive

A heterogeneous iron-catalyzed (8wt%Fe/SBA-15) mediated direct alkylation of benzyl alcohol with aryl boronic acid in the absence of base and additive via C-O bond activation is demonstrated. This catalyst system led to an efficient Friedel-crafts alkylation reaction. The acidic site in the catalyst system had been confirmed by NH3-TPD, which shows the presence of three different acidic sites viz., weak, moderated, and strong acid sites. The catalyst showed five times recyclable ability.

Nitrous Oxide Adsorption and Decomposition on Zeolites and Zeolite-like Materials

Decomposition of N2O on modified zeolites, crystalline titanosilicalites, and related amorphous systems is studied by the catalytic and spectroscopic methods. Zinc-containing HZSM-5 zeolites and titanosilicalites with moderate Ti/Si ratios are shown to exhibit a better catalytic performance in N2O decomposition as compared with conventionally used Cu/HZSM-5 zeolites and amorphous Cu-containing catalysts. Dehydroxylation of the HZSM-5 zeolite by calcination at 1120 K results in an enhancement of the N2O conversion. The mechanism of the reaction and the role of coordinatively unsaturated cations and Lewis acid sites in N2O decomposition are discussed on the basis of the spectroscopic data.

In-situ FTIR to unravel the bifunctional nature of aromatics hydrogenation synergy on zeolite / metal catalysts

Acid sites, in particular Brønsted sites, are often reported to enhance the catalytic performance of metal catalysts, like platinum, in hydrogenation. The significant boost in catalytic performance suggests a bifunctional...

Shape- and size- dependent desorption kinetics and surface acidity on nano-SnO2

The desorption kinetic parameters (the desorption activation energy (Ed) and the desorption pre-exponential factor (A)) and the surface acidity (the strength and number of acid sites) of spherical and octahedral...