Catalytic production of 1,2-propanediol from sucrose over a functionalized Pt/deAl-beta zeolite catalyst

To eliminate the dependence on fossil fuels and expand the applications of biomass conversion, an efficient Pt/deAl-beta@Mg(OH)₂ catalyst was designed, with dealuminated beta zeolite loaded with Pt as the core and Mg(OH)₂ as the shell. The catalyst was used to produce 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) from sucrose. The preparation and reaction conditions of the catalyst were optimized. The optimal yield of 1,2-PDO was 33.5% when the conditions were 20 h of dealumination, 3.0 wt% Pt loading, 5.0 wt% Mg(OH)₂, 200 mg of catalyst, 10 mL (11.25 mg mL^-1) of sucrose solution, an initial H₂ pressure of 6 MPa, 200 °C, and 3 h. The core-shell structure of the modified beta zeolite shows good stability, yielding more than 30.0% after three cycles of reuse. Firstly, the molecular zeolite can host more acid sites after dealumination by concentrated nitric acid and this can prolong the catalyst's service life. Secondly, the loading of Pt increases the distribution of acid sites and improves the shape selectivity of the catalyst. The introduction of alkali produces many alkaline sites, inhibits the occurrence of side reactions, and increases the product yield. The above modification methods increase the production of 1,2-PDO by promoting isomerization between glucose and fructose from sucrose hydrolysis and the reverse aldol condensation (RAC) reaction. This paper provides a theoretical basis and reference route for applying biomass conversion technology in practical production, which is of great significance for developing biomass resources into high-value-added chemical products.