HYDROGENOLYSIS OF GLUCOSE IN PROPYLENE GLYCOL ON CU-CR2O3/AL2O3 CATALYST
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15407/dopovidi2025.02.073Keywords:
propylene glycol, glucose, hydrogenolysis, Cu-containing catalysts, catalyst regenerationAbstract
Currently, hydrogenolysis of renewable C6 carbohydrates is considered as an alternative method for obtaining C2-3 polyols. The hydrogenolysis of a 10 % glucose solution in 60 % methanol on supported Cu-Cr2O3/Al2O3 catalyst in a flow reactor was studied at 180 °C, 4.0 MPa H2 according to the target reaction С6Н12О6 + 4Н2 = 2С3Н8О2 + 2Н2О. It was determined that the use of glucose-methanol solution doubles the propylene glycol productivity to 1.6 mmol/ (gcat · h) compared to 10 % aqueous solution of glucose due to two orders of magnitude higher solubility of hydrogen in methanol than in water. Also, the use of glucose-methanol-water solution allows to significantly increase the time of stable operation of the catalyst to at least 20 h compared to 8 h for aqueous solution. A two-step procedure for regeneration of the deactivated catalyst by washing it with 60 % methanol at 120 °C followed by H2 treatment at 200 °C has been developed.
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