Vapor-phase Dehydration of Glycerol into Hydroxyacetone over Silver Catalyst.

Silica-supported silver exhibited high catalytic activity in the dehydration of glycerol: glycerol was dehydrated into hydroxyacetone with the selectivity higher than 86% at 91% conversion over Ag/SiO₂ in H₂ flow at 240°C. Silver metal provides an active site and showed stable catalytic activity for the glycerol dehydration in H₂ atmosphere, while the dehydration activity decreased in N₂ atmosphere. The hydrogenation of hydroxyacetone into 1,2-propanediol and the decomposition to ethylene glycol did not proceed over silver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]