| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50164 | Catalysis Communications | 2014 | 5 Pages |
•Ru/CeO2, Ru/La2O3 and Ru/MgO were efficient for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol.•The method is convenient because no additives are required.•The good performance of Ru/CeO2 is related to the weak surface basicity feature.•Lactic acid is formed by a Cannizzaro reaction from pyruvaldehyde.
Several basic oxide-supported Ru catalysts (Ru/CeO2, Ru/La2O3 and Ru/MgO) were prepared and evaluated for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. The Ru catalysts were characterized by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Ru/CeO2 showed the best performance in the reaction, which is associated with its smaller metal particle size and the weak surface basicity feature of CeO2. 1,2-Propanediol is obtained as the main product through a dehydrogenation–dehydration–hydrogenation mechanism. The oxidation product lactic acid can be formed by a Cannizzaro reaction from the pyruvaldehyde intermediate.
