Hydroxyacetone: A Glycerol-Based Platform for Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Hydrodeoxygenation Processes

5 years ago

Hydroxyacetone: A Glycerol-Based Platform for Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Hydrodeoxygenation Processes

Olaf L. Bergmann, Waldemar Sauter, Uwe Schröder

Here, we propose the use of hydroxyacetone, a dehydration product of glycerol, as a platform for the electrocatalytic synthesis of acetone, 1,2-propanediol, and 2-propanol. 11 non-noble metals were investigated as electrode materials in combination with three different electrolyte compositions toward the selectivity, Coulombic efficiency (CE), and reaction rates of the electrocatalytic hydrogenation (formation of 1,2-propanediol) and hydrodeoxygenation (formation of acetone and propanol) of hydroxyacetone. With a selectivity of 84.5 %, a reaction rate of 782 mmol h−1 m−2 and a CE of 32 % (for 0.09 m hydroxyacetone), iron electrodes, in a chloride electrolyte, yielded the best 1,2 propanediol formation. A further enhancement of the performance can be achieved upon increasing the educt concentration to 0.5 m, yielding a reaction rate of 2248.1 mmol h−1 m−2 and a CE of 64.5 %. Acetone formation was optimal at copper and lead electrodes in chloride solution, with lead showing the lowest tendency of side product formation. 2-propanol formation can be achieved using a consecutive oxidation of the formed acetone (at iron electrodes). 1-propanol formation was observed only in traces. Power-to-molecule: The electrocatalytic hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation of hydroxyacetone is proposed as an efficient path for a glycerol-based synthesis of 1,2-propanediol, 2-propanol, and acetone.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201700996