Photocatalytic lactic acid production from glycerol with Al2O3/nt-TiO2 catalysts

KİBAR M. E., Aygul S., YILDIZ M.

Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, vol.138, no.6, pp.4287-4304, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 138 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11144-025-02942-9
  • Journal Name: Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.4287-4304
  • Keywords: Al2O3/nt-TiO2, Biodiesel, Glycerol, Lactic acid, Photocatalytic reaction
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This research focused on the photocatalytic conversion of glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel, to lactic acid under mild conditions. For this purpose, Al2O3/nanotube-TiO2 catalysts were prepared, characterized and the obtained catalysts were evaluated to investigate various reaction parameters and determine the optimum reaction conditions. The effects of catalyst reduction, oxygen presence, catalyst loading and NaOH/glycerol molar ratio were investigated to evaluate the reaction conditions. The optimum result was obtained with a NaOH/glycerol molar ratio of 4 at 90 °C using 0.25 g of catalyst. This reaction, carried out with a 2.5% Al2O3/nt-TiO2 catalyst, resulted in a lactic acid selectivity of 97.2% and a glycerol conversion of 60.1%.