Catalytic pyrolysis of glycerol in the presence of Nickel (II) Schiff base complex supported in SBA-15: Kinetic and products (TG-FTIR and PY-CG/MS)

Abstract This work proposes the conversion of glycerol into higher added value products through its pyrolysis in the presence of the catalyst [Ni(L1)]SBA-15. The catalyst, an SBA-15 silica, was anchored with Schiff base complex [Ni(L1)], L1 being a Schiff Base with diethylenetriamine. The materials were characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, N 2 physisorption, and thermal analysis (TGA/DTG/DSC). The kinetic study of the thermal and thermal/catalytic pyrolysis of glycerol using the iso-conversional methods proposed by KSA (Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose) and FWO (Flynn-Wall-Ozawa). The results show a reduction of activation energy in the presence of [Ni(L1)] SBA-15 compared to SBA-15 and glycerol. The products of the pyrolysis of glycerol were produced and identified by a pyrolyzer coupled to GC/MS and TGA-FTIR. The presence of the catalyst reduced the temperature of the process and resulted in the production of a greater quantity and variety of chemical products of higher added value. This leads to the conclusion that the material has catalytic activity for the thermal degradation of glycerol. The main products obtained from the pyrolysis of glycerol were carbon dioxide, aldehyde, ketone and alcohol.