Tuning Y-zeolite based catalyst with copper for enhanced activity and selectivity in vapor phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol

Abstract Highly dispersed copper oxide species supported on a Y-zeolite with different Si/Al ratios (5.1, 12, 30, and 60) were synthesized by an incipient wet impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 adsorption (BET), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), N 2 O chemisorption, Pyridine-adsorption Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Py-FTIR), NH 3 temperature programmed desorption (NH 3 -TPD) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). Copper dispersion and metallic area were measured by the N 2 O decomposition method. The amount of Bronsted and Lewis acidic sites was analyzed by Pyridine adsorption followed by FT-IR. Performance of the prepared catalysts in vapor phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol was evaluated by using a fixed-bed stainless-steel reactor at 0.2 MPa and 210 °C. The studies revealed that the 3 wt.% CuO/Y-zeolite (Si/Al = 5.1) catalyst was highly active in glycerol hydrogenolysis showing 92% conversion of glycerol and 83% selectivity to 1,2-propanediol. This seems to originate from high dispersion of Cu, smaller Cu crystallite size, and the presence of a high amount of surface beneficial acido-basic properties.