Thermal Modification Effect on Supported Cu-Based Activated Carbon Catalyst in Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol

Abstract

Glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,2‐propanediol (1,2‐PDO) was performed over activatedcarbon supported copper‐based catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation using apristine carbon support and thermally‐treated carbon supports (450, 600, 750, and 1000 °C). Thefinal hydrogen adsorption capacity, porous structure, and total acidity of the catalysts were foundto be important descriptors to understand catalytic performance. Oxygen surface groups on thesupport controlled copper dispersion by modifying acidic and adsorption properties. The amountof oxygen species of thermally modified carbon supports was also found to be a function of itsspecific surface area. Carbon supports with high specific surface areas contained large amount ofoxygen surface species, inducing homogeneous distribution of Cu species on the carbon supportduring impregnation. The oxygen surface groups likely acted as anchorage centers, whereby themore stable oxygen surface groups after the reduction treatment produced an increase in theinteraction of the copper species with the carbon support, and determined catalytic performances.