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The Effect of Grafting Zirconia and Ceria onto Alumina as a Support for Silicotungstic Acid for the Catalytic Dehydration of Glycerol to Acrolein
Author(s) -
Haider Muhammad H.,
D'Agostino Carmine,
Dummer Nicholas F.,
Mantle Mick D.,
Gladden Lynn F.,
Knight David W.,
Willock David J.,
Morgan David J.,
Taylor Stuart H.,
Hutchings Graham J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201302348
Subject(s) - silicotungstic acid , acrolein , dehydration , glycerol , catalysis , cubic zirconia , grafting , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , ceramic , polymer
The effect of ceria and zirconia grafting onto alumina (α and θ–δ phases) as supports for silicotungstic acid for the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein was studied. 30 % Silicotungstic acid (STA) supported on 5 % zirconia/δ,θ‐alumina was the best catalyst, producing 85 % selectivity to acrolein at 100 % glycerol conversion, and it showed stable activity without using oxygen as a co‐feed. The catalyst produced a STA of 90 g (acrolein) kg (cat) −1 h −1 , which was greater than the STA simply supported on δ,θ‐alumina, which only demonstrated 75 % selectivity towards acrolein. The effect of grafting on the support material was investigated by means of nitrogen adsorption, ammonia temperature‐programmed desorption, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and powder X‐ray diffraction. A pulsed‐field gradient (PFG) NMR technique was also used to study diffusion processes associated with the catalysts. Diffusion studies of the grafted catalysts showed that zirconia contributes to the formation of more tortuous pathways within the pore structure, leading to the diminution of acid strength and making the catalyst less susceptible to coke formation.