Nanoparticulate Pt on mesoporous SBA-15 doped with extremely low amount of W as a highly selective catalyst for glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1, 3-propanediol. Issue 9 (20th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fan, Yiqiu; Cheng, Shijie; Wang, Hao; Ye, Danhong; Xie, Songhai; Pei, Yan; Hu, Huarong; Hua, Weiming; Li, Zhen Hua; Qiao, Minghua; Zong, Baoning
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 19:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 2174
• Page End: 2183
• Publication Date: 2017-04-20
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/c7gc00317j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : A Pt/W–SBA-15 catalyst with an extremely low W/Si atomic ratio of 1/640 affords 1, 3-PDO with high selectivity and yield in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. Abstract : It has been documented that W-modified Pt catalysts with relatively high tungsten contents are effective for the catalytic transformation of biodiesel-derived glycerol to 1, 3-propanediol (1, 3-PDO). Herein, we report a new finding that Pt/W–SBA-15 catalysts with extremely low W/Si atomic ratios (≤1/80) exhibit excellent catalytic performance in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1, 3-PDO. In particular, a Pt/W–SBA-15 catalyst with the W/Si ratio of as low as 1/640 (Pt/W–SBA-15(1/640)) gave rise to the highest 1, 3-PDO selectivity of 70.8% at a high glycerol conversion of 86.8% and thus afforded the highest yield of 1, 3-PDO of 61.5%. A combination of characterization techniques evidenced that tungsten was homogeneously incorporated into SBA-15 in the form of isolated tetragonal WO4 and only displayed Lewis acidity. The particle size of Pt evolved in a reverse volcanic curve with the W/Si ratio, with the smallest size being observed for Pt/W–SBA-15(1/640). Control experiments indicated strong synergy between Pt nanoparticles (NPs) and WO4 in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. A probe reaction suggested that Brønsted acid sites were generated in situ on the Pt/W–SBA-15 catalysts in a H2 atmosphere by the reaction between WO4 and spillover H atoms from the Pt NPs. It is plausible that the hydrided WO4 functioned as a highly selective active centre in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1, 3-PDO, whereas the Pt NPs played the role of a reservoir of spillover H atoms. Thus, a good match between the isolated WO4 and the small Pt NPs was responsible for the superior catalytic performance of Pt/W–SBA-15(1/640).