Adsorption and conversion of ethylene glycol on the surface of Ag-containing catalyst modified with phosphate

The interaction of ethylene glycol with the surface of Ag-containing catalysts modified with phosphates was studied by IR spectroscopy. It was found that ethylene glycol was adsorbed at the surface phosphate groups; the presence of water vapor increased the stability of adsorbed ethylene glycol to a temperature of 400°C. A study of the kinetics of oxidation of ethylene glycol showed that it was consecutively converted into glycolaldehyde and glyoxal at 400°C. At 500–550°C, glyoxal was formed upon both the consecutive and direct conversion of ethylene glycol. The presence of a stage of the consecutive conversion of ethylene glycol into glycolaldehyde and glyoxal was caused by the participation of surface phosphate groups in the adsorption of alcohol molecules to be oxidized.