Allyl Alcohol Production by Conversion of Glycerol Over Supported Iron and Nickel Bimetallic Oxides

The study of catalysts based on iron, nickel, and iron-nickel oxides (Fe, Ni and FeNi) supported on a commercial mesoporous alumina is presented. The metal oxides were synthesized by the incipient wetness impregnation method. The samples were characterized by XRD, H2-TPR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS and N2 adsorption. The catalytic activity was evaluated in the dehydration-dehydrogenation reaction of glycerol in the gas phase. In the iron oxide and nickel oxide catalysts, the result of H2-TPR showed that the presence of nickel influences the reduction of iron species. In the reaction, the catalysts showed similar conversion. However, the selectivity of the bimetallic oxide catalysts is modified, and the production of allyl alcohol increases noticeably forming a greater amount allyl alcohol than that observed in the monometallic oxides, in which a greater amount of hydroxyacetone is formed. The results indicate that the redox pairs Fe+3/Fe+2 influence the selectivity of these oxides. A decrease in the ratio Fe+3/Fe+2 species favored the formation of allyl alcohol.