The synthesis of acrolein from glycerol via a double dehydration reaction is considered a promising alternative to the oxidation of propylene over Bi/Mo/W-oxide catalysts. So far, most of the catalyst screenings have been mainly carried out using a continuous fixed bed flow reactor setup coupled with GC analysis.

W. Suprun and H. Papp, University of Leipzig, Germany, and M. Lutecki, University of Cambridge, UK, report on the application of a thermogravimetric (TG) setup coupled with temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and online MS analysis for the determination of the catalytic performance of alumophosphates loaded with different transition metal oxides (MO_x-Al₂O₃-PO₄).

It is shown that TPD-TG-MS investigations of MO_x-Al₂O₃-PO₄ catalysts loaded with glycerol are a supplementary and useful tool for fast-screening of initial activities and selectivities of catalysts in the dehydration of glycerol. It provides the opportunity to detect products formed via different reaction pathways, i.e., dehydration reaction or oxidative degradation.

• TPD-TG-MS Investigations of the Catalytic Conversion of Glycerol over MO_x-Al₂O₃-PO₄ Catalysts
  W. Suprun, M. Lutecki, H. Papp,
  Chem. Eng. Technol. 2011, 34 (1).
  DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201000316