LAUSR

Abstract Preparation of various silica-supported copper-nanocatalysts (Cu/SiO 2 ) by deposition precipitation and impregnation methods was demonstrated. These catalysts were prepared using urea and sodium hydroxide as the precipitating-agents. All the catalysts were systematically characterized by various analytical, spectroscopic and imaging techniques including XRD, N 2 sorption analysis, N 2 O chemisorption, TPD, TPR, DRUV-VIS XPS and TEM. The Cu/SiO 2 catalyst prepared using urea as the precipitating-agent exhibited uniform and narrow size distribution copper-nanoparticles to that prepared using sodium hydroxide as well as impregnation method. The performance of the catalyst with different metal loading is analyzed and a Cu-loading of 15 wt% was found to be optimum for the maximum yield. Thus, the catalytic activity of 15 wt% Cu/SiO 2 was systematically examined for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol reaction. The influence of reaction conditions and structure activity correlation were also elucidated in this work.