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A catalytic route to lower alcohols from glycerol using Ni-supported catalysts

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mike Green

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Abstract

The activity of Ni-supported catalysts on silica and alumina was studied for the transformation of glycerol to lower alcohols, primarily 1-propanol and ethanol. Pressure had a small effect on glycerol conversion whereas temperature had a significant effect on conversion and selectivity. Ni/SiO2 gave quantitative conversion of glycerol at a lower temperature compared to Ni/Al2O3. Ni/SiO2 also gave a higher selectivity to ethanol and propanol (63%) compared to Ni/Al2O3 (52%) at a similar conversion. The higher activity of Ni/SiO2 can be ascribed to its smaller crystallite size ascertained from XRD analysis. The Ni/SiO2 catalyst also showed improved reducibility compared to Ni/Al2O3. The used catalyst showed sintering of the Ni, which was confirmed by a loss of surface area and average crystallite size. The route to lower alcohols from glycerol is proposed to occur via 1,2-propanediol. Biomass is readily converted into biodiesel and glycerol and we have developed a route to convert glycerol into lower alcohols. We have therefore demonstrated that it is possible to convert biomass into biodiesel and lower alcohols (via glycerol) from the same crop, thus reducing the need to produce ethanol from a separate government-subsidised crop.

Publication metadata

Author(s): van Ryneveld E, Mahomed AS, van Heerden PS, Green MJ, Friedrich HB

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Green Chemistry

Year: 2011

Volume: 13

Issue: 7

Pages: 1819-1827

Print publication date: 03/05/2011

ISSN (print): 1463-9262

ISSN (electronic): 1463-9270

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c0gc00839g

DOI: 10.1039/c0gc00839g

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