Influence of surface acid–base properties of zirconia and titania based catalysts on the product selectivity in gas phase dehydration of glycerol

Acid–base properties of zirconia and titania based materials were investigated by adsorption microcalorimetry of NH3 and SO2 probe molecules. Catalytic performance of the catalysts was also tested in the gas phase dehydration of glycerol with the intention of finding correlations between catalytic activity and surface acid–base features. Results show that the number of basic sites directly affects the selectivity in gas phase dehydration of glycerol to produce acrolein. Therefore, in order to realize the target reaction it is necessary to control not only the strength and the amount of the desired sites (acidic ones), but also to hinder as much as possible the number/strength/action of the undesired ones (basic ones).

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► Activity of ZrO2 and TiO2 based catalysts in the gas phase dehydration of glycerol.
► Determination of surface acidity/basicity by adsorption calorimetry.
► Correlation of surface acid/base features with selectivity and conversion.
► Number of basic sites directly affects selectivity to produce acrolein.