Direct Synthesis of Calcium Lactate through the Reaction of Glycerol with Calcium Hydroxide Catalyzed by Bimetallic AuCu/SiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocatalysts

oleh: Changqing Li, Xinyue Cui, Aili Wang, Hengbo Yin, Yuting Li, Qiao Lin, Junjie Guo

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-05-01

Deskripsi

Bimetallic AuCu/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanosized catalysts were prepared using the wet chemical reduction technique. From among Au<sub>0.1–1.5</sub>Cu<sub>10</sub>/SiO<sub>2</sub> catalysts, the Au<sub>0.5</sub>Cu<sub>10</sub>/SiO<sub>2</sub> catalyst gave the highest yield of calcium lactate of 87% at a glycerol conversion of 96% when the reaction of glycerol with calcium hydroxide at a mole ratio of calcium hydroxide to glycerol of 0.8:1 was conducted under an anaerobic atmosphere at 200 °C for 2 h. The interactions between metallic Au<sup>0</sup> and Cu<sup>0</sup> nanoparticles facilitate calcium lactate formation. The simulation of glycerol consumption rate with an empirical power-function reaction kinetics equation yielded a reaction activation energy of 44.3 kJ∙mol<sup>−1</sup>, revealing that the catalytic reaction of glycerol with calcium hydroxide to calcium lactate can be conducted by overcoming a mild energy barrier. The synthesis of calcium lactate through the catalytic reaction of glycerol with calcium hydroxide on a bimetallic AuCu/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanosized catalyst under a safe anaerobic atmosphere is an alternative to the conventional calcium lactate production technique through the reaction of expensive lactic acid with calcium hydroxide.