Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Glycerol Using Cu-Ni Bimetal Catalyst Supported Over Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

The rising generation of glycerol as a biodiesel byproduct motivates its conversion to industrial chemicals. This study shifts focus from noble metals to low-cost, abundant elements by employing a Cu-Ni bimetal catalyst supported on coconut shell activated carbon for the aqueous-phase reforming of glycerol. The catalyst was synthesized by the wet impregnation method and characterized for surface morphology, surface functional groups, and surface area properties. Gas-phase products were collected in a gas bag and analyzed with a Hiden HPR-20 mass spectrometer.

Reaction conditions examined include a 20 wt% initial glycerol concentration, 20 bar, and 200 °C. Deconvolution of the MS peaks using NIST MS Search 2.0 software identified acetic acid, propylene oxide, carbon monoxide, and acetaldehyde as products under these conditions, providing insight into the possible pathways involving aqueous-phase reforming and dehydration.

These findings indicate that glycerol can be converted into valuable chemicals under relatively mild conditions using a cost-effective Cu-Ni bimetal catalyst supported on coconut shell activated carbon, with implications for sustainable glycerol valorization.

Project summary by Dr Ibrahim bin Yakub, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Sarawak, Malaysia.

Paper Reference: Ibrahim Yakub, Khairul Anwar Mohamad Said, Mohamed Afizal Mohamed Amin, Ahmad Beng Hong Kueh and Mugahed Amran (2024) Aqueous-phase Reforming of Glycerol using Cu-Ni Bimetal Catalyst Supported over Coconut Shell Activated Carbon. Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences. Akademia Baru Publishing, 115(1) pp. 193–205. DOI: 10.37934/arfmts.115.1.193205.

Hiden Product: HPR-20.