WO3-modified KIT-6 catalysts synthesized via a non-hydrolytic sol–gel method for glycerol dehydration to acrolein


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Kaya B., Hamid M. A., Zengin Y., ŞAFAK BOROĞLU M., BOZ İ.

Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

Özet

The expansion of biodiesel production has generated a surplus of glycerol. The valorization of this renewable by-product into value-added chemicals has therefore gained increasing interest. This study presents a systematic investigation of WO3/KIT-6 catalysts prepared via a non-hydrolytic sol–gel (NHSG) method for glycerol dehydration to acrolein. Catalysts with 5–35 wt% WO3 were synthesized and systematically characterized. XRD confirms the formation of monoclinic WO3 across the investigated samples. The 25 wt% WO3/KIT-6 catalyst exhibits the highest medium-strength acid site concentration (204 μmol NH3 per g), intrinsic acidity (0.56 μmol NH3 per m2), and a Brønsted/(Brønsted + Lewis) ratio of 0.67. Under the studied reaction conditions, this catalyst achieves 83% glycerol conversion and 43% acrolein selectivity. The results indicate that an optimal balance between medium-strength acidity and mesostructural properties governs acrolein selectivity and catalyst stability.