Hydrogenolysis of glycerol with in-situ produced H₂ by aqueous-phase reforming of glycerol using Pt-modified Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ catalyst

We found that Pt-modified Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ acted as an effective catalyst for aqueous phase reforming (APR) and selective C-O hydrogenolysis of glycerol without external hydrogen sources at low temperature of 463 K, and that 0.5 wt% loaded Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ (Pt(0.5)-Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂) provided 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PrD) and acetol in high total yield of 53% at 81% conversion. The initial activity (TOF_initial) over Pt(0.5)-Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ at 463 K was estimated to be 13 h⁻¹. Pt-Ir alloy and Ir-ReO_x species in Pt-Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ are main active species for APR and selective C-O hydrogenolysis, respectively, and the high yield can be achieved by balancing the APR and hydrogenolysis activities through the optimization of Pt and Ir-ReO_x molar ratio.