Keggin-type molybdovanadophosphoric acids loaded on ZSM-5 zeolite as a bifunctional catalyst for oxidehydration of glycerol

Glycerol is a promising renewable feedstock for the manufacture of C3 derivatives. We investigated the one-pass oxidehydrarion of glycerol through the dehydration of glycerol into acrolein, followed by the oxidation of acrolein. A novel bifunctional catalyst for this reaction was prepared by loading the Keggin-type molybdovanadophosphoric acid H3+xPVxMo12-xO40 (x = 0–3) on ZSM-5 (MFI) zeolite (Si/Al = 45) exhibiting both dehydration and oxidation activity. H5PV2Mo10O40 and H6PV3Mo9O40 were stable and dispersed on ZSM-5 zeolite, and the acidic property of the ZSM-5 zeolite was retained. The oxidehydration of glycerol was catalyzed by H5PV2Mo10O40 loaded on the ZSM-5 zeolite with high selectivity of acrylic acid. In-situ IR analysis suggests that acrolein molecules adsorbed on H5PV2Mo10O40/ZSM-5 were converted into acrylic acid due to the inhibition of side-reactions such as polymerization and auto-condensation, which induced coke formation, compared with the other Mo and V-based oxides loaded on ZSM-5 zeolite.