Cu catalysts supported on CaO/MgO for glycerol conversion to lactic acid in alkaline medium employing a continuous flow reaction system

Abstract

CaO/MgO exhibited better catalytic performance than the CuCa and CuMg catalysts. The LA yield increases with the increase of the reaction temperature from 200 to 240 °C, and then decreases with a subsequent increase to 260 °C. NaOH/glycerol molar ratios greater than 1.25 are not necessary, since high yield to LA (96.9%) was obtained in the catalytic test performed using a molar ratio of 1.25. The catalysts showed excellent stability without evidence of deactivation over the evaluated period.