Aqueous phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol with generated hydrogen over Ni/AlFe catalyst: effect of the calcination temperature

The present work studied the influence of the calcination temperature on the aqueous phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol with in situ generated hydrogen over a Ni/Al 3 Fe 1 catalyst. The Ni/Al 3 Fe 1 catalyst was synthesized by the co-precipitation method at 28 mol% of Ni (Ni/(Ni + Al + Fe)) and a molar ratio of Al/Fe of 3/1. The prepared catalyst was calcined at different temperatures (500-750 °C). The obtained samples were tested for the aqueous phase hydrogenolysis (APH) of glycerol and characterized by several analytical techniques (ICP-OES, H 2 -TPR, XRD, N 2 -physisorption, NH 3 -TPD, STEM, FESEM, and TGA). The catalyst calcined at 625 °C was selected as the best sample due to its high acidity, metal dispersion, and catalytic activity; 1,2-propanediol was the highest carbon selectivity product. In addition, it experienced lower metal leaching than the catalyst calcined at 500 °C. Calcination temperatures of 500, 625 and 750 °C were studied over a Ni/Al 3 Fe 1 catalyst on glycerol valorization. The catalyst calcined at 625 °C showed the best performance due to its high activity and selectivity to 1,2-propanediol.