Effect of particle size on monometallic and bimetallic (Au,Pd)/C on the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol

The influence of metal particle size of monometallic and bimetallic supported catalysts (Au, Pd, Au-Pd)/C was studied using as a model reaction the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol. By tuning the metal particle size from 2 to 16 nm a progressive decrease of activity and simultaneously an increase in the selectivity to sodium glycerate was observed. Moreover, the influence of the temperature was studied and it was found that by increasing the temperature, only with a large particle size the formed glycerate was retained and not over-oxidized to tartronate.