Hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propanediols over a Pt/ASA catalyst: The role of acid and metal sites on product selectivity and the reaction mechanism

Pt supported on amorphous silico alumina (Pt/ASA) was studied as a catalyst for glycerol hydrogenolysis (dehydration + hydrogenation) to 1,2-propanediol under mild operation conditions (493 K and 45 bar H2 pressure). Glycerol hydrogenolysis also took place in experiments performed under N2 pressure due to hydrogen available from glycerol aqueous phase reforming. As both acid and metallic sites are involved in this process a study including activity tests and different characterization techniques (TPR and FTIR of adsorbed pyridine, NH3-TPD, XPS and TGA) were applied to this catalytic system (ASA support and Pt/ASA catalyst) in order to get a deeper understanding about their interactions.