Carbon Support Effect in Re-Catalyzed Acrylic Acid
Researchers from the Department of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering (D13), together with colleagues from the Jožef Stefan Institute, have demonstrated that the structure of the carbon support plays a key role in the effectiveness of rhenium catalysts for converting bio-based glyceric acid into acrylic acid. Bio-based glyceric acid is typically obtained from glycerol, which is generated as a by-product of biodiesel production. By systematically comparing different carbon materials, they identified the factors that enable high catalytic activity and selectivity in the deoxydehydration process, which is important for the sustainable production of chemicals from biomass. The acrylic acid obtained in this way is used in the production of polymers, adhesives, coatings, and as a platform chemical for various industrial chemicals.
In the study, rhenium catalysts were prepared on different carbon supports. Characterization of the selected catalysts revealed that the choice of support strongly affects the size of rhenium particles, their dispersion, accessibility of active sites, and stabilization of oxidation states. Catalytic tests at 150 °C showed that activated carbon-supported catalysts were significantly more effective than the others, achieving up to 83% combined selectivity toward deoxydehydration products, comparable to a commercial Re/C catalyst. The main advantage of activated carbon is its high specific surface area and mesoporous structure, which enable better dispersion and accessibility of high-valent rhenium species.
The results indicate that the morphology and surface chemistry of the carbon support decisively influence the performance of rhenium catalysts. The study provides valuable guidance for the rational design of catalytic systems for biomass valorization and represents a step toward a more sustainable chemical industry.
More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622326000187
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