In Situ-Generated, Dispersed Cu Catalysts for the Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol.

The present study is dedicated to the experimental verification of a concept for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol over in situ-generated Cu dispersed particles (Cu-DP). The Cu-DP were generated by in situ reduction of a precursor salt (Cu(OAc), CuSO, CuCl) in the presence of KOH and were active in glycerol conversion under hydrogen (T = 200-220 °C, p(H) = 1-4 MPa), where 1,2-propylene glycol (PG) and lactic acid (LA) were detected to be the main products. The influence of the reaction conditions (temperature, hydrogen pressure, reaction time, catalyst-to-feed ratio and the KOH/Cu ratio) on the yields of the products is described.