Trivalent metal ions M3+ in M0.02Cu0.4Mg5.6Al1.98(OH)16CO3 layered double hydroxide as catalyst precursors for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol

Trivalent metal ions M3+ in M-0 02Cu0.4Al1.98(OH)(16)CO3 (M = Ru, Re) layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were successfully synthesized by coprecipitation. Bimetallic M-Cu/solid base catalysts with high metal dispersion were obtained after calcination and H-2 reduction of these LDH precursors. These catalysts exhibited excellent performances for the hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived glycerol under mild conditions. The catalysts were stable when recycled five times. Characterizations indicated that the addition of Ru or Re enhanced the adsorption and activation of hydrogen on the surface of catalysts, which contributed to the high conversion of glycerol. (C) 2013, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.