Au NPs on anionic-exchange resin as catalyst for polyols oxidation in batch and fixed bed reactor

Commercial weak basic anion resin (Dowex M-43) was used as support for gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Au NPs stabilized by tetrakishydroxypropylphosphonium chloride (THPC) were immobilized on the support (AuTHPC/Dowex M-43). In alternative, Au NPs were generated by adsorbing NaAuCl4 on the resin and then reduced by NaBH4 (Auads/Dowex M-43). These catalysts were tested in the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol in a glass batch reactor: AuTHPC/Dowex M-43 showed better activity than Auads/Dowex M-43. The higher activity can be attributed to the smaller Au nanoparticles in AuTHPC/Dowex M-43 than Auads/Dowex M-43. Moreover AuTHPC/Dowex M-43 was tested in the glycerol oxidation in a fixed bed reactor showing good stability during the reaction time. All the catalysts have been characterised by TEM, FT-IR and XPS.