LAUSR

The modification of physicochemical characteristics of 20 wt% Cu–Ni (1:1)/γ-Al2O3 catalyst by varying the calcination temperature and its effect in vapor phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propane-1,2-diol was examined in packed bed down flow tubular reactor. The catalyst calcined at 400 °C rendered the highest glycerol conversion (~ 100%) and propane-1,2-diol selectivity (~ 89.5%) at 220 °C, 0.75 MPa and at the weight hourly velocity of (WHSV) of 1.3 h−1. The bifunctional nature of the new Cu–Ni bimetallic phase along with very high metal dispersion (~ 20%), lower crystallite size (≤ 20 nm) and high metal surface area ~ 30 m2 g−1 were the primary reason for the higher activity and selectivity to propane-1,2-diol. Furthermore, using a two-step reaction mechanism (glycerol dehydration to acetol and subsequent hydrogenation of acetol to propane-1,2-diol), a kinetic model was developed based on Eley–Rideal approach. The activation energies for the formation of acetol and propane-1,2-diol were calculated as 55.14 and 50.87 kJ mol−1, respectively.