Enhanced recycling performance of bimetallic Ir-Re/SiO2 catalyst by amberlyst-15 for glycerol hydrogenolysis

Abstract Recycling performance of heterogeneous catalysts is of crucial importance especially for a batch reaction system. In this work, we demonstrate a strategy for enhancing recycling performance of Ir-Re/SiO2 catalyst synergized with amberlyst-15 in glycerol hydrogenolysis to produce 1,3-propanediol. Comprehensive characterization results reveal that the Re sites in the Ir-Re/SiO2 catalyst undergo irreversible segregation and oxidation. These hinder the formation of active Re-OH species and thus contribute to a complete and irreversible deactivation. However, the introduction of amberlyst-15 into the reactant mixture can restrain the oxidation process of Re sites and favor the formation of Re-OH species, and thus significantly enhance the catalytic recycling performance. The results demonstrated here could guide the development of excellent bimetallic catalysts with the desirable recycling performances for the reaction.