Tungsten-doped siliceous mesocellular foams-supported platinum catalyst for glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,3-propanediol.

[Display omitted] • The Pt/W-MCFs catalysts with different cell size and window size were prepared. • The W species were single-sited and tetrahedrally coordinated. • The content of the WV species evolved in parallel with that of the Pt2+ species. • The optimal Pt/W-MCFs catalyst gave a high 1,3-PDO yield of 63 %. • The WV species close to the Pt NPs may facilitate the immediate formation of 1,3-PDO. By varying the mass ratio of the swelling agent 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) to the template P123 during the synthesis of the W-MCFs, we prepared a series of tungsten-doped siliceous mesocellular foams (W-MCFs) supported Pt catalysts (Pt/W-MCFs). In glycerol hydrogenolysis, the Pt/W-MCFs catalysts were highly active and selective to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), attributable to the 3-dimensional continuous large pore structure of the W-MCFs that facilitates the entry of the reactant and the escape of the product. Among the Pt/W-MCFs catalysts, the Pt/W-1.5MCFs catalyst with the TMB/P123 ratio of 1.5 exhibited the best activity and 1,3-PDO selectivity. Remarkably, the Pt/W-1.5MCFs catalyst afforded a high 1,3-PDO selectivity of 65 % at high glycerol conversion, thus rendering the highest 1,3-PDO yield of 63 %. The synergy between the Pt nanoparticles and the single-sited tetrahedral WVO 4 species at the metal–oxide interface is proposed to be responsible for the differences in the catalytic performances among the Pt/W-MCFs catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]