Highly Selective Bimetallic Pt‐Cu/Mg(Al)O Catalysts for the Aqueous‐Phase Reforming of Glycerol

Monometallic Pt and bimetallic Pt‐Cu catalysts supported on Mg(Al)O mixed oxides, obtained by calcination of the corresponding layered double hydroxides (LDHs), were prepared and tested in the aqueous‐phase reforming (APR) of glycerol. The effect of the Mg/Al ratio and calcination temperature of the LDH support, as well as the effect of varying Pt and Cu amounts on glycerol reforming, was investigated. The use of a basic support increases the selectivity to hydrogen and the use of a Pt‐Cu bimetallic catalyst results in a decrease in alkane formation. The 0.9 wt. % Pt‐0.4 wt. % Cu/Mg(Al)O_2.95 catalyst system with an Mg(Al)O mixed oxide support obtained by the calcination of the corresponding LDH material with Mg/Al ratio of 2.95 at 673 K, showed higher hydrogen selectivity (55.3 %) and lower methane production (1.9 %) after 5 h reaction than the benchmark Pt/Al2O3 catalyst (49.4 % and 5.6 %, respectively). Catalyst characterization by extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy showed a bimetallic interaction between Pt and Cu. The bimetallic interaction is thought to be responsible for the lowered methane formation and, ultimately, the high hydrogen selectivity observed.