GLYCEROL HYDROGENOLYSIS THROUGH - CATALYTIC TRANSFER HYDROGENATION

Abstract

The recent increases in crude oil prices have created unprecedented opportunities to displace petroleum-derived materials with bio-based materials. In this context, biodiesel production has experienced a rapid increase worldwide. Unfortunately, biodiesel production generates about lOwt% of glycerol byproduct. Upgrading low valued glycerol into a chemical with a higher added value increases the sustainability and commercial viability of the biodiesel production process. Among other alternatives, glycerol hydrogenolysis towards 1,2-propanediol, or propylene glycol, by heterogeneous catalysis is a relevant and attractive valorization route and is the subject of this master thesis. Hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived glycerol is an alternative route for the production of value added chemicals, such as 1,2-propanediol or propylene glycol. Glycerol hydrogenolysis experiments were performed on heterogeneous catalysts. The catalysts were characterized so as to get their physio-chemical properties. Several reactions were performed to study it catalytic activity.