Pt/Nb-WO x for the chemoselective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol: Nb dopant pacifying the over-reduction of WO x supports

Abstract Selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) is an important yet challenging method for the transformation of biomass into value-added chemicals due to steric hindrance and unfavorable thermodynamics. In previous studies, chemoselective performances were found demanding and sensitive to H2 pressure. In this regard, we manipulate the chemical/physical characteristics of the catalyst supports via doping Nb into WOx and prepared 1D needle-, 2D flake-, and 3D sphere-stack mesoporous structured Nb-WOx with increased surface acid sites. Moreover, Nb doping can successfully inhibit the over-reduction of active W species during glycerol hydrogenolysis and substantially broaden the optimal H2 pressure from 1 to 5 MPa. When Nb doping is 2%, supported Pt catalysts showed promising performance for the selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-PD over an unprecedentedly wide H2 pressure range, which will guarantee better catalyst stability in the long run, as well as expand their applications to other hydrogen-related reactions.