Hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol over Li2B4O7-modified tungsten–zirconium composite oxides supported platinum catalyst

A series of Pt–yLi 2 B 4 O 7 /WO x /ZrO 2 (y = 0, 0.5, 1, 2 wt%) catalysts were prepared by varying the content of Li 2 B 4 O 7 through the method of coimpregnation-calcination. The obtained catalysts were used for the selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol. Meanwhile, these catalysts were characterized by N 2 adsorption and desorption (BET), CO chemisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), NH 3 -temperature programmed desorption (NH 3 -TPD), H 2 -temperature programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that Pt–1Li 2 B 4 O 7 /WO x /ZrO 2 achieved the highest activity with glycerol conversion of 90.7% at 150 °C and 4 MPa and exhibited excellent stability over 200 h. Pt/WO x /ZrO 2 catalyst modified with Li 2 B 4 O 7 was able to enhance catalytic activity and stability, since Li 2 B 4 O 7 promoted the dispersion of Pt, increased the acid amount of the catalyst and strengthened the interaction between active components and support.