A. Cvetkovs

Selective Oxidation of Glycerol to Glyceraldehyde over Novel Monometallic Platinum Catalysts

Several novel monometallic platinum catalysts supported on metal oxides (Al2O3, Y2O3, γ-Al2O3, Lu2O3, ZrO2-Y2O3 TiO2, SiO2, γ-AlO(OH)) and activated carbon (C) were synthesized by extractive-pyrolytic method and tested in glycerol oxidation processes without base addition to obtain glyceraldehyde. It was found that Pt catalyst activity is strongly influenced by support nature, oxygen partial pressure and Pt loading. Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/SiO2 catalysts exhibited the highest activity but selectivity to glyceraldehyde significantly decreased when glycerol conversion increased.

Novel fine-disperse bimetallic Pt-Pd/Al2O3 catalysts for glycerol oxidation with molecular oxygen

Using extractive-pyrolytic method several Pt-Pd bimetallic catalysts supported on plasma-processed alumina nanopowder were synthesized. Pt-Pd loading and glycerol oxidation process parameter influence on catalyst activity and selectivity was determined oxidizing glycerol in mild conditions. Novel bimetallic catalysts in neutral water solutions were practically inactive (glycerol conversion was only 3%) whereas in alkaline solutions they were active and selective to glyceric acid. Using 1.2%Pt-1.2%Pd/Al2O3 catalyst glyceric acid was obtained with 65% selectivity (glycerol conversion was 96%). It was shown that novel fine-disperse bimetallic Pt-Pd/Al2O3 catalysts were more active compared to analogous monometallic Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3 catalysts.

Production of ZnO AND CdO-ZnO Thin Films by Extraction–Pyrolytic Method

Abstract The extraction-pyrolytic method has been applied to produce the ZnO and CdO-ZnO thin films on glass and quartz glass substrates. According to X-ray diffraction measurements, the ZnO and CdO phases have been produced with an average size of crystallites about 8–42 nm in the films. The thickness of the layers measured by a profilometer has been up to 150 nm. The surface morphology measurements show that the surface of the films may be rough and non-continuous. The SEM results confirm the dependence between the preparation procedure and the quality of the thin film.