LAUSR

Silica–phosphate-supported copper catalyst was prepared by neutralization of sodium silicate with orthophosphoric acid followed by the addition of copper nitrate. The precipitated catalyst was dried and calcined at 550 °C for 4 h. The calcined powder was activated in hydrogen atmosphere at 400 °C for 4 h based on temperature-programmed reduction result. XRD analysis of the calcined catalyst showed the presence of CuO nanoparticles along with new phases CuHPO 4 ·H 2 O and P 4 O 7 . But after reduction, metallic copper nanoparticles along with Cu 4 O 3 , Cu 2 O and χ - P 2 O 5 phases were formed. The higher loading of copper (40 wt%) showed more Lewis acid sites than BrØnsted acid sites determined by pyridine–FTIR analysis. The high Lewis acid sites increased the acetol selectivity for 100% glycerol conversion at 220 °C for 3 h of reaction in atmospheric pressure. The yield of maximum distilled product (80%) was achieved for the highest copper loading catalyst. The high yield of the liquid product was due to the low tendency of copper atom towards the breakage of the C–C bond during dehydration reactions.