Synthesis of 2-Methylpyrazine Using Crude Glycerol over Zn-Cr-O Catalyst: A Value Addition Process for the Utilization of Biodiesel By-Product

Mixed oxides of ZnO and Cr2O3 with varied mole ratios were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for the dehydrocyclization of crude glycerol for the production of 2-methylpyrazine (2-MP). The Zn-Cr-O composition was optimized using the bulk and surface properties of the catalysts rationalized by BET-SA, XRD, XPS, H-2-TPR, O-2 pulse chemisorption, and Raman spectroscopic techniques to achieve a high rate of 2-MP.