Glycerol Dehydration to Acrolein over Supported Vanadyl Orthophosphates Catalysts

Giovanna Ruoppolo,Gianluca Landi,Almerinda Di Benedetto

doi:10.3390/catal10060673

Abstract

Biodiesel has been identified as one of the notable options for at least complementing conventional fuels. From a transesterification reaction, crude glycerol is produced as the main by-product. Given the difficultly in upgrading to high-grade glycerin and glycerol market saturation, alternative routes to more value-added products have aroused significant interest. In this work, we proposed supported vanadyl orthophosphates (VOP) as catalysts for the glycerol dehydration to acrolein. VOP supported on γ-Al2O3, TiO2, and ZrO2 were prepared, characterized by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD), and tested under different operating conditions. All the samples showed low coke formation in the presence of molecular oxygen in the feed. Acrolein is the main condensable product, with carbon balance being satisfactory under most operating conditions. VOP supported onto alumina provided the best catalytic performance, due to a good balance between the acid (weak and medium acid sites) and redox sites, thereby appearing as a good candidate for glycerol dehydration to acrolein.

Highlights

Biodiesel has has been been identified identified as one of the notable options for at least complementing conventional fuels
Giveninthe difficultly upgrading to high-grade glycerin and glycerol alternative routes to more value-added products have aroused significant interest
The active phase load corresponding to the monolayer was directly related to the specific surface areas (SSA) and steadily increased from 3.6 to 14.0 wt. %

Summary

Introduction

Biodiesel has has been been identified identified as one of the notable options for at least complementing conventional fuels. Giveninthe difficultly upgrading to high-grade glycerin and glycerol alternative routes to more value-added products have aroused significant interest. We market saturation, alternative routes to more value-added products have aroused significant interest. Proposed supported vanadyl orthophosphates (VOP) as catalysts for the glycerol for dehydration to we proposed supported vanadyl orthophosphates (VOP). 2 , and coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD),(XRD), N2 physisorption and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion