Mo-Promoted Ni/CeO2 Synthesized via Sonochemical Method as Potential Catalyst in Aqueous Phase Reforming of Glycerol for Production of 1,3-Propanediol

Catalyst selection plays an important factor to determine catalyst performance in aqueous phase reforming of glycerol. It was discovered that sonochemical method which utilizes ultrasonic propagation to assist in catalyst synthesis, yield catalysts with excellent physicochemical properties, especially Ni-based catalysts, where it is discovered that catalyst synthesized via sonochemical method has better surface morphology, smaller particle sizes and less particle agglomeration, which ensure good catalyst performance. In this research, nickel ceria has been selected as the catalyst due to its effectiveness in reforming technology, low cost, and its ability to generate Brønsted acid sites which is vital in increasing the yield of 1,3-propanediol. Theoretically, Brønsted acid sites can be generated by adding a promoter such as molybdenum. In this work, five Mo-promoted Ni/CeO2 catalysts were synthesized using 10 wt Ni loading at different percentage (0-7 wt) of Mo promoter doped onto CeO2 support using a sonicator probe for 45 minutes via pulse method of 10s interval at 80 amplitude. To investigate its physicochemical properties, the synthesized catalysts were characterized using two characterization techniques, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Hydrogen-Temperature Programmed Reduction (H2-TPR). It was observed that the promoted catalyst using Mo accelerated the reaction at 350°C. FESEM micrographs obtained revealed that the catalysts prepared have good surface morphology with the presence of Ni, Ce and Mo in a good elemental distribution and minimal particle agglomeration, resulted from the effect of ultrasonic cavitation. Based on the overall catalyst physicochemical properties, the synthesized catalysts have the potential for future studies in converting glycerol into 1,3 propanediol via aqueous phase reforming, where the catalyst prepared has better physicochemical properties and activity compared to Ni-based catalyst using different support. © 2022 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.