Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Dehydration Of Glycerol Over Silica-and Alumina-supported Cesium-exchanged Silicotungstic Acid Catalysts
Categories for this Invention
Chemistry & chemical Analysis | Energy, Energy Storage & Renewable Energy
Industry: Catalyst, Chemical manufacturing, Renewable energy production, Biofuel-biodiesel
Applications: Production of acrolein from glycerol, Sustainable chemical production, Biomass conversion to value-added chemicals
Market: The global catalyst market was valued at $36 Bn in 2020, it is projected to reach $58 Bn by 2030, growing at 4.9% CAGR in the forecasted period from 2021 to 2030.
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Problem Statement
- Traditional methods of acrolein production via propylene oxidation face economic challenges with increasing crude oil prices.
- Dehydration of glycerol is a promising alternative, but existing catalysts suffer from drawbacks like strong acidity leading to coke formation & limited thermal stability.
- Frequent catalyst regeneration & replacement increase process cost and environmental impact, hindering sustainability of glycerol-to-acrolein conversion.
- Optimizing synthesis method and experimental setup are crucial for advancing glycerol-to-acrolein conversion technology.
- Hence, developing a catalyst that overcomes above mentioned issues for efficient glycerol dehydration to acrolein is needed.
Technology
The instant disclosure outlines a process for the dehydration of glycerol, particularly process for preparing cesium-exchanged silicotungstic acid catalysts supported on silica-&-alumina.
Process Step:
Catalyst Preparation:
- Cs3H-SiW is synthesized by gradually adding an aqueous Cs2CO3 solution to an H4-SiW solution at room temperature with vigorous stirring.
- The resulting slurry is dried in a rotary evaporator at 60°C and then heated in air to 350°C at a rate of 10°C min-1, followed by calcination at 350°C for 4h
- Cs3H-SiW/SBA-15 and Cs3H-SiW/γ-Al2O3 catalysts are prepared similarly, with Cs2CO3 added dropwise to SBA-15 and γ-Al2O3, followed by the addition of H4SiW solution, stirring, drying, heating, calcination.
Characterization:
- XRD patterns are obtained to analyze the structural properties of the cesium-exchanged silicotungstic acid and supported catalysts.
Analysis:
- Loading of Cs3H-SiW into SBA-15 and γ-Al2O3 leads to a decrease in surface area & pore volume due to coverage & plugging of pores by large Keggin anions.
Key Features / Value Proposition
User perspective:-
- Enhanced catalytic activity: Faster reaction rates and increased productivity.
- Improved product quality: High-purity acrolein meeting industrial standards.
- Simplified operation: Catalyst stability and reusability reduce downtime and costs.
- Environment Sustainability: Utilizing renewable glycerol aligns with eco-friendly practices.
Industrial perspective:-
- Cost-effective production: Lower costs compared to traditional methods.
- Process efficiency: Maximizes yield and minimizes waste generation.
- Market competitiveness: Meets consumer demands for eco-friendly products.
- Scalability: Adaptable to varying production needs.
Technology perspective:-
- Novel catalyst design: Improved performance and selectivity.
- Tailored synthesis method: Uniform distribution of active sites enhances performance.
- Comprehensive characterization: Detailed analysis for optimization.
- Innovation potential: Supports ongoing research and development.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Selvam P
NCCR & Department of Chemistry
Intellectual Property
IITM IDF No.: 1501Â
IP No.: 367864 (Granted)
Technology Readiness Level
TRL- 3
Proof of Concept Stage.