Novel fine-disperse bimetallic Pt-Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts for glycerol oxidation with molecular oxygen

Using extractive-pyrolytic method several Pt-Pd bimetallic catalysts supported on plasma-processed alumina nanopowder were synthesized. Pt-Pd loading and glycerol oxidation process parameter influence on catalyst activity and selectivity was determined oxidizing glycerol in mild conditions. Novel bimetallic catalysts in neutral water solutions were practically inactive (glycerol conversion was only 3%) whereas in alkaline solutions they were active and selective to glyceric acid. Using 1.2%Pt-1.2%Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst glyceric acid was obtained with 65% selectivity (glycerol conversion was 96%). It was shown that novel fine-disperse bimetallic Pt-Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts were more active compared to analogous monometallic Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts