A nickel catalyst showed a considerable selectivity to propylene glycol (up to 98%) at 30% glycerol conversion, under moderate hydrogenation conditions: 200°C reaction temperature, 20-25 bar hydrogen pressure, 5 wt% catalyst and unprecedented low reaction time of 8 h.

Glycerol obtained in a large percentage as by-product in bio-diesel production can be hydrogenated to propylene glycol using copper and nickel catalyst compositions. Catalyst compositions were prepared by mechanical mixing of a nickel catalyst with a copper chromite catalyst and by impregnation. The effect of Ni/Cu mass ratio contained in catalyst compositions was evaluated.

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