Catalysis Letters, Vol.131, No.1-2, 122-128, 2009
Conversion of Glycerol to Acrolein in the Presence of WO3/ZrO2 Catalysts
Dehydration of glycerol to acrolein was performed on WO3/ZrO2 solid heterogeneous catalysts in a continuous flow fixed bed reactor. A maximum of 75% acrolein selectivity was achieved at 100% conversion of glycerol. The acrolein selectivity correlates with the concentration of weak acidic sites of the WO3/ZrO2 catalysts that were free of basic sites.
Keywords:Glycerol (glycerin);Acrolein;Alcohol dehydration;Solid acid;WO3/ZrO2;Sustainable technology