Selective conversion of glycerin to glyceric acid under mild and base-free conditions using layered double hydroxides-supported Pt nanoparticle catalysts

BACKGROUND: Glyceric acid (GLA) has immense potential as a versatile compound with significant biological activity in the field of life sciences. Its production from glycerin (GLY) through selective aerobic oxidation offers an attractive route for sourcing chemicals from biomass. However, achieving high yields of GLA under mild conditions, specifically base-free and low-temperature conditions, presents a notable challenge. RESULTS: In this study, we present the remarkable catalytic performance of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on cerium-doped layered double hydroxides (LDHs), yielding an impressive GLA selectivity of 60.3% at 60 degrees C. Our findings indicate that the Ce-doped catalyst greatly enhancing catalyst alkalinity and catalytic performance, particularly at low temperatures. The cyclic performance of Pt/1%CeMg1Al1-LDH revealed a gradual decline in catalytic performance after five cycles, indicating the catalyst's inherent resistance to deactivation. CONCLUSION: The construction of CeO2 and the increase in catalyst alkalinity after Ce doping may be the main reasons for improving the catalytic performance. The mild and base-free reaction conditions represent a pivotal step toward the future industrialization of glyceric acid, considering their divergence from conventional glycerin conversion conditions. (c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.