Ru/CeO2 catalysts for supercritical water gasification of glycerol: stability, activity, and coke hydrothermal oxidation
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2026
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01A - Journal article
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Catalysis Science & Technology
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Royal Society of Chemistry
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Abstract
Cerium oxide (CeO2) was investigated as a support for Ru nanoparticles in the continuous supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of glycerol as a model biomass compound. The stability of pure CeO2 under reductive SCW conditions was first assessed in both batch and continuous modes. In batch, CeO2 readily underwent phase transformation to CeCO3OH, implying reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+, leading to severe loss of surface area. The formation of CeCO3OH was completely prevented in continuous flow due to the flushing of CO2 and reductive compounds before cooling down to a temperature thermodynamically favouring CeCO3OH. Although pristine CeO2 showed low activity in SCWG, thermal treatment strongly influenced product distribution, with CO disappearing in favour of C3H8 after a reductive pretreatment. When Ru nanoparticles were supported on thermally stabilized CeO2 (calcined at 700–900 °C, 0.11–1.00 wt% Ru), the catalysts displayed high efficiency in SCWG of glycerol, yielding CO2, CH4, and H2 as the main products. These Ru/CeO2 catalysts achieved apparent conversion rates up to three times higher than a commercial 5 wt% Ru/AC benchmark, while maintaining similar selectivity trends. Both Ru/CeO2 and carbon-based catalysts exhibited similar decreasing activity trends under operation. Post-reaction analysis revealed some carbon deposition on Ru/CeO2, likely the main cause of the observed loss of activity, which could be effectively removed either by thermal oxidation in air at 300 °C or by in situ hydrothermal oxidation with H2O2 at 110 °C. Overall, Ru/CeO2 emerges as a durable and regenerable alternative to Ru/carbon for SCWG applications.
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2044-4761
2044-4753
2044-4753
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English
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Yes
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Published
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peer-reviewed
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Hybrid
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Kondratowicz, T., Quenet, A., Li, X., Testino, A., Kröcher, O., Vogel, F., & Baudouin, D. (2026). Ru/CeO2 catalysts for supercritical water gasification of glycerol: stability, activity, and coke hydrothermal oxidation. Catalysis Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cy01486g