Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol to 1,2-Propanediol over Ru/TiO_2 Catalyst

The supported Ru/TiO2 catalyst was prepared by the impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The effects of reaction temperature, hydrogen pressure, glycerol concentration, catalyst amount, and base additives on the catalytic performance of Ru/TiO2 in the glycerol hydrogenolysis reaction were investigated. Under mild reaction conditions (170 oC, 3 MPa), using LiOH as additive, the conversion of glycerol and the selectivity for 1,2-propanediol were as high as 89.6% and 86.8%, respectively.