Dehydrogenation of methyl glycolate to methyl glyoxylate over a Cu/SiO2 catalyst

Dehydrogenation of methyl glycolate (MG) is an attractive method for synthesizing methyl glyoxylate (MGO, an important high-value chemical and pharmaceutical intermediate), which is calling for a qualified catalyst. Cu/SiO 2 -AE catalysts were prepared via the ammonia evaporation method for the title reaction, showing the catalytic performance strongly dependent on their preparation/activation parameters as well as the reaction conditions. The preferable 15Cu/SiO 2 - 80 AE (15 wt% Cu-loading; AE-treatment at 80 o C; calcined at 500 o C) after H 2 -reduction at 300 o C achieved a high MG conversion of 38.5% with MGO selectivity of 79.0% at 400 °C. The Cu/SiO₂-AE catalyst demonstrates promising catalytic performance, achieving 38.5% MG conversion with 79.0% MGO selectivity at 400°C. The Cu⁺/Cu⁰ ratio plays a crucial role in catalytic activity, as revealed by XPS, FTIR, and MG-TPSR. Deactivation mechanisms were studied, and catalyst regeneration was explored, offering insights for industrial application in green MGO synthesis. • Catalytic dehydrogenation of MG is an attractive method for MGO production. • A promising Cu/SiO 2 catalyst is developed via ammonia evaporation method. • The catalyst achieves 38.5% MG conversion and79.0% MGO selectivity at 400 o C. • The catalytic performance is closely related to the Cu + /Cu 0 ratio of catalysts. • Reduction of Cu + species, Cu sintering, and coking are the main cause for catalyst deactivation.