Selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol over MgO-nested Raney Cu

Cu/MgO and MgO nested on the surface of Raney Cu were prepared by a wet-mixing method and used as catalyst for glycerol hydrogenolysis. The texture of Raney Cu/MgO was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and CO 2 -temperature-programmed desorption techniques. Results indicated that MgO was well dispersed in the pores of Raney Cu. Moreover, Raney Cu with large specific surface area had a larger contact surface for MgO, and a new phase of Cu–MgO was produced. Glycerol hydrogenolysis was selectively catalyzed under the synergistic effect of Cu and MgO in Cu/MgO catalyst. Under the moderate conditions of 180 °C and 1 MPa H 2 , the conversion of glycerol was 36.2 wt% and the selectivity for 1,2-propanediol was ~85 wt% when chemical equilibrium.