Methods for Pt-WO3/SBA-15 materials synthesis for glycerol conversion

Glycerol has applications as a raw material in different industrial processes, however, its supply exceeds demand. An alternative to increase the added value of this feedstock is its conversion into high added-value chemical products through dehydration and hydrogenation reactions, from which 1,2-PDO and 1,3-PDO can be obtained. To develop catalysts that increase the conversion and selectivity of these processes, materials of 2% Pt and 10% WO3 supported on SBA-15 were studied. Two methods were used for incipient wetness impregnation: sequential impregnation, with impregnation steps for each species, and co-impregnation, with a single impregnation step for both species. From the analysis of XRD, XRF, N2 isotherms, SEM, EDS, FTIR, and pyridine FTIR spectroscopy, it was possible to observe the influence of these methods on the structural and textural properties. It was verified that the co-impregnation provided a better dispersion of the WO3 species on the surface of the SBA-15 and that the reduction process, for both methodologies employed, showed an improvement in the metallic dispersion. The better dispersion of WO3 species also resulted in a greater formation of Bronsted acid sites for the co-impregnation method, with a predominance of Lewis sites in the structure of the catalysts obtained by both methods.

Automated summary

Glycerol, as a raw material, has applications in various industrial processes, yet its supply exceeds demand. This study investigates the conversion of glycerol into high added-value chemical products by dehydration and hydrogenation reactions, specifically targeting the production of 1,2-PDO and 1,3-PDO. By studying catalysts made of 2% Pt and 10% WO3 supported on SBA-15, the researchers explore the influence of different impregnation methods on the structural and textural properties of the catalysts. The results indicate that co-impregnation provides better dispersion of WO3 species and leads to a greater formation of Bronsted acid sites, while both methods yield catalysts with predominance of Lewis sites.