Insights into the Nature of the Active Sites of Pt-WOx/Al2O3 Catalysts for Glycerol Hydrogenolysis into 1,3-Propanediol

The chemo-selective hydrogenolysis of secondary hydroxyls is an important reaction for the production of biomass-derived alpha,omega-diols. This is the case for 1,3-propanediol production from glycerol. Supported Pt-WOx materials are effective catalysts for this transformation, and their activity is often related to the tungsten surface density and Bronsted acidity, although there are discrepancies in this regard. In this work, a series of Pt-WOx/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by modifying the pH of the solutions used in the active metal impregnation step. The activity-structure relationships, together with the results from the addition of in situ titrants, i.e., 2,6-di-tert-butyl-pyridine or pyridine, helped in elucidating the nature of the bifunctional active sites for the selective production of 1,3-propanediol.

Automated summary

In this study, a series of Pt-WOx/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by adjusting the pH of the impregnation solutions, and the nature of bifunctional active sites for the selective production of 1,3-propanediol was elucidated by adding in situ titrants.