Zirconia-supported niobia catalyzed formation of propanol from 1,2-propanediol via dehydration and consecutive hydrogen transfer

Vapor-phase catalytic dehydration of 1,2-propanediol was investigated over Zirconia-supported niobia catalysts. The catalysts exhibit selectivity favoring propanol (approximately 39%) at 85.0% 1,2-propanediol conversion at 290 °C under 1 atm N2. The ZrNbO catalysts were analyzed by various techniques; the results indicated that the active sites were weak Brّnsted acid sites. A dehydration and hydrogen transfer mechanism was also proposed.