Vapour phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol over nano Ru/SBA-15 catalysts on the effect of preparatory routes and metal precursors.

Abstract

The effect of preparation method and metal precursor of ruthenium employed during the preparation of Ru/SBA-15 catalysts were investigated. The catalytic functionalities are evaluated during the vapour phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propyleneglycol, 1,3-propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The catalysts exhibit high conversion/selectivity for 3 wt%Ru (3Ru/SBA-15) catalysts during glycerol hydrogenolysis. CO-chemisorption results suggest that the variation in the dispersion of Ru on SBA-15 support. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, TPR, TEM, BET surface area, pore size distribution and CO-chemisorption measurements. The Ru/SBA-15 catalysts synthesized from micro-emulsion method and polyol method have shown higher catalytic activity than the samples prepared by impregnation method and deposition-precipitation method. The catalytic behavior during glycerol hydrogenolysis is attributed to the formation of nano particles of ruthenium.