Selective conversion of glycerol to hydroxyacetone in gas phase over La2CuO4 catalyst

The gas phase dehydration of glycerol to hydroxyacetone was investigated over La2CuO4 catalyst under inert conditions. The reaction was performed in the temperature range of 260-400 degrees C. At low temperature (260 and 280 degrees C) high yields of hydroxyacetone can be achieved: 76% while at higher temperatures carbon deposition occurred. We showed that the structure of the La2CuO4 catalyst was modified during time on stream: Cu2+ was partially reduced into Cu1+ even at 260 degrees C. The formation of Cu2O was revealed by XRD and XPS analysis confirmed that both Cu2+ and Cu1+ are present at the surface of the catalyst. After reduction of La2CuO4 into Cu-0/La2O3, low catalytic activity was observed proving that metallic copper is not the required species to perform the dehydration of glycerol into hydroxyacetone under our experimental conditions. TGA analysis revealed that only small amount of carbon deposition occurred during time on stream at 260 degrees C, no catalytic deactivation being observed during 20 h of reaction. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.