Conversion of glycerol to hydroxyacetone over Cu and Ni catalysts

Abstract

The conversion of glycerol to hydroxyacetone, in gas phase and atmospheric pressure, was investigated over γ-Al2O3 and TiO2 supported copper and nickel catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation and pre-treated with hydrogen at 450 °C. It was studied eight different catalysts at 280 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The higher glycerol conversion and selectivity to hydroxyacetone were obtained with the monometallic Cu/γ-Al2O3 and Cu/TiO2 catalysts. Furthermore, high selectivity to lactic acid was obtained over Cu/TiO2. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, N2-physisoption, and NH3-TPD. Furthermore, the Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was studied on different reaction temperature and gas flow conditions. It was obtained that the selectivity to hydroxyacetone is favors at lower temperatures. However, the catalyst suffer deactivation. Carbonaceous deposits over the used sample were not revealed by Raman and FTIR. Finally, a regeneration treatment by oxidation–reduction reactivated the Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst successfully.