Layer-by-layer fabrication of montmorillonite coating immobilizing Cu2O nanoparticles for continuously catalyzing glycerol to dihydroxyacetone

Microreactors are extensively employed in different chemical reactions owing to their benefits of superior mass and heat transfer, increased yield, safety, and simplicity of control. However, immobilizing catalysts in microreactors remains a challenging issue. In this investigation, a technique for creating Cu 2 O/montmorillonite catalyst coating, using electrostatic attraction for layer-by-layer self-assembly, was proposed. The montmorillonite film's morphology and thickness could be efficiently regulated by adjusting the degree of exfoliation and surface charge of montmorillonite, alongside layer-by-layer coating times. The Cu 2 O nanoparticles were immobilized using the flow deposition approach. The resulting Cu 2 O@Mt-MR microreactor successfully transformed glycerol into dihydroxyacetone. The conversion of glycerol and product selectivity could be controlled by adjusting the molar ratio of reactants, temperature, residence time, and Cu 2 O loading. The maximum glycerol conversion observed was 47.6%, with a 27% selectivity towards dihydroxyacetone. The study presents a technique for immobilizing montmorillonite-based catalyst coatings in capillary tubing, which can serve as a foundation for the future application of microreactors in glycerol conversion.