Hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propanediols on Cu–Ca–Al hydrotalcites derived catalysts

Abstract

A series of Cu–Ca–Al hydrotalcite derived catalysts were prepared by the co-precipitation method. Their catalytic activities were evaluated in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, ICP, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD and H2-TPR. It was observed that the incorporation of calcium and aluminum in the Cu–Ca–Al catalyst improved the conversion of glycerol and promoted the generation of 1,3-PDO. This is due to the appropriate acidity and basicity of the catalyst, which is confirmed by NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD. The conversion of glycerol over the catalyst with a Cu–Ca–Al mole ratio of 1:3:5 was up to 73.2 % with 42.6 % selectivity to 1,2-PDO and 9.1 % selectivity to 1,3-PDO. Effects of the reaction time, reaction temperature and initial hydrogen pressure on the conversion and selectivity were systematically investigated.