Evaluation of the Catalytic Activity of Metal Phosphates and Related Oxides in the Ketonization of Propionic Acid

In recent years, the upgrading of lignocellulose bio-oils from fast-pyrolysis by means ketonization has emerged as a frontier research domain to produce new generation biofuels. Propionic acid (PA) is extensively investigated model reaction over metal oxides, but activity other materials, such phosphates, mostly unknown. Therefore, PA was preliminarily in gas phase both phosphates and oxides Al, Zr, La. Their catalytic correlated physicochemical properties materials characterized XRD, XRF, BET N2 porosimetry, CO2- NH3-TPD. Noteworthy, monoclinic ZrO2 proved be most promising candidate for target reaction, leading 3-pentanone productivity high 5.6 h−1 optimized conditions. This value higher than those reported same academic patent literature.