Cu-Based Spinels for Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol to 1,2-Propanediol

The effective catalytic conversion of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) via hydrogenolysis reaction is achieved over CuB2O4 spinel catalysts (B = Fe, Cr, Al). The spinels prepared via a sol-gel auto combustion method are calcined at different temperatures. Physico-chemical properties of the catalysts are analyzed by N-2 sorption isotherm, X-ray diffraction and temperature programmed reduction, whereas catalyst morphology is investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic behaviors strongly depend on spinel structures and operating parameters, such as H-2 pressure, temperature, and catalyst loading. The catalytic performance of cubic CuAl2O4 calcined at 900 degrees C achieves the glycerol conversion of 96.0% with 1,2-PDO yield of 89.5% at 220 degrees C after 6 h under H-2 initial pressure of 50 bar.