Solid acid co-catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol over Ir-ReOx/SiO2

Hydrogenolysis of aqueous glycerol was conducted with Ir-ReOx/SiO2 catalyst and solid acid co-catalyst. Considering the reusability and activity, H-ZSM-5 is the most suitable solid co-catalyst. The property of Ir-ReOx/SiO2 + H-ZSM-5 system including kinetics and selectivity trends in various reaction conditions is similar to the case of Ir-ReOx/SiO2 + H2SO4. The catalyst stability, activity, and the maximum yield of 1,3-PrD of Ir-ReOx/SiO2 + H-ZSM-5 were slightly lower than Ir-ReOx/SiO2 + H2SO4. The role of added acid may be to protonate the surface of ReOx cluster to increase the number of hydroxorhenium site, which activates glycerol by the formation of glyceride species.

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► The combination of Ir-ReOx/SiO2 and solid acids catalyzes glycerol hydrogenolysis.
► Acid addition enhances hydrogenolysis of the internal COH bond of glycerol.
► Amberlyst 70 is the most effective solid acid in enhancing the activity.
► H-ZSM-5 is a suitable solid acid in terms of activity and reusability.