Sulphated Zirconia Supported on Cordierite Honeycomb Monolith for Effective Synthesis of Solketal from Acetalisation of Glycerol with Acetone

摘要

Liquid phase acetalisation of glycerol with acetone to synthesize a value added glycerol acetal (solketal) has been studied over solid oxides such as ZrO2, ZrO2-Al2O3 and SO42-/ZrO2 coated on cordierite honeycomb monoliths. Such honeycomb monoliths were characterized by XRD, TPD-NH3, BET, SEM and FTIR techniques. Characterization results indicate that the incorporation of calculated amounts of Al2O3 or SO42- on ZrO2 strongly influences the surface acidity of ZrO2, increases the catalytically active tetragonal phase of ZrO2 and improves surface area and pore volume. Modified ZrO2 catalysts coated on honeycombs show better conversion and selectivity towards solketal when compared to pure ZrO2. Moreover cordierite honeycomb monoliths coated with catalytic materials were found to be efficient, easily reactivable and reusable for at least 6 reaction cycles.