High Catalytic Activity for Glycerol Electrooxidation by Binary Pd-Based Nanoparticles in Alkaline Media

Abstract

Glycerol is a nonflammable and volatile compound obtained from biodiesel production, it has good theoretical energy density (5.0 kWh kg -1 ). Complete glycerol oxidation to CO 2 in acid medium is difficult to achieve, but alkaline medium facilitates this process. Pd is a promising catalyst for alkaline medium, however, it requires co-catalysts, to enhance the oxidation process. In this paper, we investigated glycerol oxidation using catalysts supported on carbon containing 40 wt% PdM/C metal loading (M = Ru, Ni, Sn, Mn, Fe) and microwave-assisted heating. We recorded cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric curves in the presence and absence of glycerol, in alkaline medium (1.0 mol L -1 NaOH). PdM/C catalysts underwent the characteristic metal transition to Pd-hydroxide and Pd-oxide on the carbon support. Pd 71 Ru 29 /C was the best catalyst for glycerol oxidation; it contains particles measuring between 2 and 7 nm. In conclusion, catalysts containing a mixture of phases in the crystalline structure afford high glycerol oxidation yields.