Electro-oxidation of waste glycerol to tartronic acid over Pt/CNT nanocatalyst: study of effect of reaction time on product distribution


Ahmad M. S., Cheng C. K., Ong H. R., Abdullah H., Hong C. S., Chua G. K., ...More

ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, vol.45, no.4, pp.10998-11014, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/15567036.2019.1683099
  • Journal Name: ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ABI/INFORM, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, Environment Index, Greenfile, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.10998-11014
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In this work, glycerol valorization into tartronic acid - one of the most valuable derivatives of glycerol - was reported over platinum supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt/CNT) electrocatalyst. The nanocatalyst was synthesized using a chemical reduction method with hydrazine as a reducing agent. The physical analyses of catalyst were performed by BET, XRD, FESEM, EDX, and TEM. The XRD spectroscopy indicated a face-centered cubic crystalline structure with an average crystallite size of 4.2 nm. The field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the particles were uniformly distributed over multi-walled carbon nanotubes, while EDX showed the elemental composition of Pt (17.52%) and C (82.48%). Electrochemical activity and stability of the catalyst were measured using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. Electrochemical surface area (ECSA, 226.52 m(2)/g) and mass activity (MA, 5.74 mA/mg) were calculated in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M glycerol/0.5 M KOH solution, respectively. The catalytic activity of Pt/CNT nanoparticles was analyzed from glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), while the products distribution and selectivity were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that the tartronic acid was produced as a major product with a selectivity of 95.3% while small quantities (<1%) of mesoxalic acid, dihydroxyacetone, and glyceric acid were also produced. The higher activity and selectivity of Pt/CNT can be attributed to high electrochemical surface area and uniform distribution over support.