direct catalytic conversion of glycerol to liquid-fuel classes over ir–re supported on w-doped mesostructured silica

glycerol was converted to liquid fuels through a one-pot process catalyzed by mesostructured ir–re–w/sio₂. the reaction was performed over 0.4 g of catalyst suspended in an aqueous solution of glycerol (4.72 mmol/ml) at 553 k under a hydrogen pressure of 6.0 mpa for 50 h. a hydrocarbon-enriched organic phase was self-separated from the aqueous solution after the reaction. the total yield of oil products was greater than 40%, and the selectivity toward hydrocarbons was approximately 90%. the conversion proceeds through a complicated mechanism that involves a cc coupling reaction and hydrodeoxygenation. doped tungsten oxide species in a silica matrix are active acidic sites for acid-catalyzed dehydration. supported iridium species are catalytic active sites for hydrodeoxygenation and cc coupling reactions. the evolution of their chemical states during the catalytic process was detected by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. rhenium species are important co-catalysts for iridium species. these active catalytic species work together to achieve the direct conversion of glycerol in aqueous solution to liquid fuels under a hydrogen atmosphere.