New insights into how Mg(OH)2 affects the performance of Au-based catalysts in base-free glycerol oxidation

Mg(OH)₂ and Mg(OH)₂ containing materials can present excellent performance as supports for AuPd nanoparticles in base-free glycerol oxidation, which is considered to be related to basic sites on the surface. However, its influence on the reaction solution has not been previously discussed. In this paper, base-free glycerol oxidation was operated using four types of catalyst, where the distance between Mg(OH)₂ and AuPd was adjusted. It was found that the activity of the AuPd nanoparticles increased with the amount of Mg(OH)₂ added under base-free conditions, regardless of its interaction with the noble metals. In order to investigate how Mg(OH)₂ affected glycerol oxidation, detailed information about the performance of AuPd/Mg(OH)₂, physically mixed (AuPd/C+Mg(OH)₂) and (AuPd/C+NaHCO₃) was obtained and compared. Furthermore, NaOH and Mg(OH)₂ were added during the reaction using AuPd/C. All these results indicate that the distinctive and outstanding performance of Mg(OH)₂ supported catalysts in base-free condition could be correlated to its ability to affect the pH during the reaction. 

Research results based upon these data are published at http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201704151