High Yield to 1-Propanol from Crude Glycerol Using Two Reaction Steps with Ni Catalysts

The objective of the present work is to achieve high yield to 1-propanol (1-POH) by crude glycerol hydrogenolysis in liquid phase and find an alternative to the use of noble metals by employing Ni catalysts. Two Ni catalysts with different supports, alumina (γ-Al2O3), and a phosphorous-impregnated c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Catalysts Vol. 10; no. 6; p. 615
Main Authors: Martín N. Gatti, Julieta L. Cerioni, Francisco Pompeo, Gerardo F. Santori, Nora N. Nichio
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 01-06-2020
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Summary:The objective of the present work is to achieve high yield to 1-propanol (1-POH) by crude glycerol hydrogenolysis in liquid phase and find an alternative to the use of noble metals by employing Ni catalysts. Two Ni catalysts with different supports, alumina (γ-Al2O3), and a phosphorous-impregnated carbon composite (CS-P) were studied and characterized in order to determine their acid properties and metallic phases. With the Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst, which presented small particles of metallic Ni interacting with the acid sites of the support, it was possible to obtain a complete conversion of crude glycerol with high selectivity towards 1,2-propylene glycol (1,2 PG) (87%) at 220 °C whereas with the Ni/CS-P catalyst, the presence of AlPOx species and the Ni2P metallic phase supplied acidity to the catalyst, which promoted the C-O bond cleavage reaction of the secondary carbon of 1,2 PG to obtain 1-POH with very high selectivity (71%) at 260 °C. It was found that the employment of two consecutive reaction stages (first with Ni/ γ-Al2O3 at 220 °C and then with Ni/CS-P at 260 °C) allows reaching levels of selectivity and a yield to 1-POH (79%) comparable to noble metal-based catalysts.
ISSN:2073-4344
DOI:10.3390/catal10060615