Green propene through the selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol over supported iron-molybdenum catalyst: The original history

• Published in: Journal of molecular catalysis. A, Chemical Chemical, 2016-10, Vol.422, p.158-164
• Main Authors: Mota, Claudio J.A., Gonçalves, Valter. L.C., Mellizo, Jhon E., Rocco, Ana Maria, Fadigas, José C., Gambetta, Rossano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Glycerol; Hydrogenolysis; Iron-molybdenum catalyst; Propene
• ISSN: 1381-1169; 1873-314X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2015.11.014

[Display omitted] •The selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propene was studied.•Supported Pd and Ru catalysts were not selective toward propene.•Fe/Mo supported on activated carbon gave 90% selectivity to propene.•Ni/Mo, Cu/Mo and Zn/Mo gave mainly propane and oxygenated compounds.•The reaction pathways seems to involve formation of 1,2-propanediol and isopropanol as intermediates. The hydrogenolysis of glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, to propene was studied over supported metallic catalysts. About 100% glycerol conversion was observed for all catalysts, but the selectivity was dependent on the composition. Ru and Pd on activated carbon produced mainly propane and methane/ethane, respectively. Ni/Mo on activated carbon gave mainly propane, whereas Zn/Mo and Cu/Mo supported on activated carbon produced intermediate oxygenated compounds. Fe/Mo over activated carbon presented up to 90% selectivity to propene. This results may be explained in terms of the poor reductibility of the Fe/Mo catalysts, as shown by TPR and XRD experiments. A possible pathway from glycerol to propene involves the formation of acetol, 1,2-propanediol and 2-propanol as intermediates.