Gylcerol Conversion over Novel Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Supported Catalyst: Effect of Metal Loadings and Glycerol Concentration

The catalytic activity of glycerol conversion to value-added chemicals was attempted using novel fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as support material with ruthenium metal. The effect of metal loadings and glycerol concentration were investigated. Glycerol hydrogenolysis is generally done using a parr reactor with the presence of hydrogen gas. Furthermore, the reaction was carried out under a mild condition (150 degree Celsius, 8 hours, and 20 bar of hydrogen pressure). A series of metal loading of (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 7.5, 9.0, and 11 %) were prepared to observe the activity of glycerol conversion and selectivity of 1,2-propanediol as a major product. Meanwhile, glycerol concentrations at (20, 40, 60, and 80 wt %) were proceed to determine the capability of Ru/ FTO catalyst to convert glycerol at lower and higher concentration. At the optimized results, metal loading of 7.5 % give a better glycerol conversion (99 %) and selectivity of 1,2-PDO at 94 %. Meanwhile, Ru/ FTO catalyst was observed to stabilize the highest glycerol conversion at average mean of 87 % for every glycerol concentration. (author)