Synthesis of 1,2‐Propylene Glycol in a Continuous Down‐Flow Fixed‐Bed Reactor With Cu/Al2O3Catalyst

Abstract

AbstractGlycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,2‐propylene glycol in a continuous down‐flow fixed‐bed reactor with 60 %Cu/Al2O3catalyst was investigated. The routes of main, intermediate and by‐products formation were proposed. It is shown that an increase in the catalyst particle size from 0.1–0.16 to 1.6–2.5 mm transfers the process from the kinetic mode to an intermediate mode between the kinetic and internal diffusion controlled reaction rate. In this case, the observed activation energy decreased by 30 %. The optimal conditions for the process have been determined.