Pt monometallic and bimetallic catalysts prepared by acid sol–gel method for liquid phase reforming of bioglycerol

PtFe, PtCo, PtNi, Ni and Pt-based γ-Al2O3 catalytic systems were prepared using the acid sol–gel method and characterized by appropriate techniques. Their catalytic activities in glycerol APR for H2 production were investigated, and the most significant results will be fully discussed in this paper. The effect of operating conditions, the influence of different non-noble incorporated metals, the interesting promoting effect between Pt and Ni and their dispersion effect on the catalytic performance have been the main focus of this research. The analyses by TPR-H2, XRD, XPS and TEM/EDX techniques confirmed high Pt and Ni dispersions and the promoting effect between both elements. All this explains the best catalytic activity of PtNiAl(SGA) catalyst, especially at moderate temperature/pressure reaction conditions. Highly dispersed Pt/Ni and Pt spillover effects were the key for obtaining high H2 production. The Pt monometallic catalyst recorded lower conversions but fairly stable activity, while the Ni-containing catalysts recorded higher conversions, but some initial deactivation until steady state was reached.

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► Pt mono and bimetallic based γ-Al2O3 catalysts for APR of glycerol were investigated.
► Acid sol–gel allows preparing catalysts with laminated morphology and good dispersion.
► Pt/Ni highly dispersed and Pt spillover effect were key for obtaining higher H2 rate.
► Close Pt/Ni vicinity gives rise to a promoting effect which led to higher conversions.
► SGA seems to be a promising method to develop active and selective catalysts for APR.