Catalytic Functionalities of Nano Ruthenium/gamma-Al2O3 Catalysts for the Vapour Phase Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol.

A series of Ruthenium catalysts with different Ru contents supported on gamma-alumina were prepared by deposition-precipitation method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), trans- mission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), CO-chemisorption, surface area and pore-size distribution (PSD) measurements. The catalytic activities were evaluated for the vapour phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propanediols. The pore size distribution (PSD) results suggest that Ru loadings considerably affect the pore volume, pore diameter and surface area. The particle size measured from CO-chemisorption and TEM analysis are well correlated to the activity results during the hydrogenolysis reaction. The catalytic properties of Ru/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were evaluated for the first time over vapour phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propanediols.