Glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1, 2 propanediol over Ru/C catalyst

Optimal experimental conditions for catalytic conversion of glycerol to 1 2 propanediol over catalyst Ru/C are investigated Results indicate that glycerol hydrogenolysis is the result of two reaction stages dehydration to acetol and hydrogenation to 1 2 propanediol Use of a cationic exchange resin improves the dehydration stage providing higher conversion and selectivity to 1 2 propanediol Division of the reaction time Into a dehydration period (under a nitrogen atmospheric pressure) and a hydrogenation period (under a hydrogen atmosphere of 60 bar) is essayed This sequential stage reaction process provides lower glycerol conversion but increases the selectivity ratio between 1 2 propanediol and the main liquid by product ethylenglycol The influence of two relevant variables in this process H-2/glycerol ratio and initial glycerol concentration is analysed Increasing the H2/glycerol ratio increases glycerol conversion although it also causes higher production of unfavourable ethylenglycol Ethylenglycol production is reduced when the glycerol concentration increases A balance between conversion and selectivity is necessary in order to select optimal reaction conditions (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved