HYDROGENOLYSIS OF GLYCEROL OVER NI-BASED CATALYSTS

Identifier:  TDX:1419

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX1419

Authors:  Miranda Morales, Bárbara Cristina

Abstract:
World demand for energy, chemicals and products is increasing every year. Current production systems and consumption patterns are now unsustainable. New alternative ways must be developed to satisfy not only the energy needs and the production of chemicals but also for a more friendly effect on the environment. Biomass resources such as glycerol represent one alternative to this. The catalyst role in the mechanism of the cleavage of the C-C and C-O bonds which modulates the routes in the glycerol conversion is the key to control the selectivity to target products. Because of that, this research work wishes to contribute with the development of catalysts for the catalytic transformation of glycerol to high value-added chemicals, and to understand the catalyst structure relationship with the catalytic performance. The attention of the present research is devoted to the glycerol hydrogenolysis over Ni based catalysts. The catalytic conversion of glycerol in gas phase over Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst at atmospheric pressure and 573 K in the presence of hydrogen in a fixed bed reactor was studied. Different reduction temperatures of the Ni samples were used as parameter to evaluate its effect on the catalytic performance. Then, the effect of Cu introduction into Ni in the catalytic glycerol conversion was also studied. Different Ni/Cu atomic ratios of 8/1, 4/1, 2/1, 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 were studied.