Catalytic Oxidative Dehydration of Glycerol over a Catalyst with Iron Oxide Domains Embedded in an Iron Orthovanadate Phase

An embedded catalyst for the oxidative dehydration of glycerol, featuring iron oxide (FeOx) domains on the surface of an iron orthovanadate (FeVO4) phase, is developed. Catalytic reactions are conducted in a fixed-bed reactor at 300 degrees C with a feed composition N-2/O-2/H2O/glycerol = 66.6:1.7:30.3:1.5. Catalytic results show that the catalyst exhibits a better performance than an FeOx catalyst prepared by impregnation and than a mixture of FeVO4 and Fe2O3. The best yield for acrylic acid was 14%. The presence of FeOx domains on the surface of FeVO4 catalyzes the oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid. The catalysts are characterized by a range of techniques. The interaction between the nanometer-sized FeOx domains and the FeVO4 phase is strong enough to stabilize the FeOx and retain its high activity. The proximity of the two phases provides an environment for the dehydration of glycerol and the oxidation of acrolein to acrylic