Selective dehydration of glycerol on copper based catalysts

• The dual site consisting of Al or Zr the support and Cu species is active. DFT indicates synergy acid sites supports species. Copper dispersion a sensitivity descriptor for activity. Glycerol produced in large quantities as byproduct biodiesel, among others hydroxyacetone (acetol) an important commodity obtained from glycerol. Metallic has been identified active dehydration glycerol to metal are known influence catalytic performance. In this study, over 5 wt.% copper supported on ?-Al 2 O 3 , ZrO SiO was investigated. Catalysts were characterized by N physisorption, H -TPR, NH -TPD, chemisorption, XPS, XRD, FTIR pyridine adsorption. Cu/ZrO exhibited highest yield at 20 % conversion apparent reaction rate. superior activity attributed highly acidic, both Lewis Brönsted nature positive roles interfacial sites. Weisz-Prater (WP) criterion applied confirm absence intraparticle diffusion limitations. It assumed spherical particles first order reaction. WP value worst scenario less than 0.3 ensuring no limitation. Complementary study that interact significantly stronger Cu/?-Al compared metallic Cu, suggesting interface acidic support.