Liquid Phase Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol over Highly Active 50%Cu-Zn(8:2)/MgO Catalyst: Reaction Parameter Optimization by Using Response Surface Methodology

In this study, a highly promising bimetallic 50%CuZn(8:2)/MgO catalyst was developed for selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO). The catalytic activity was evaluated in a high pressure autoclave reactor. Results demonstrated that the incorporation of Zn into Cu/MgO catalysts enhanced the glycerol conversion and selectivity to 1,2-PDO due to the hydrogen spillover effect. Experimentally maximum glycerol conversion of 98.7% with 94.6% selectivity to 1,2-PDO was achieved at mild reaction conditions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to study the interaction of the various reaction parameters and develop an empirical process model followed by the optimization of the reaction parameters. The high values for determination coefficients (>0.95) obtained by analysis of variance indicated that the quadratic regression models developed were highly satisfactory. The results of numerical optimization demonstrated that 97.8% glycerol conversion with 93.5% selectivity to 1,2-PDO can be achieved at 212 degrees C and at 4.5 MPa pressure.