Cu/SiO2 catalysts with different Cu loading were prepared by an ammonia-evaporation method for the glycerol hydrogenolysis in a fixed-bed reactor. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorp­tion desorption

X-ray powder diffraction

transmission electron microscope

and N2O-H2 titration. It was found that the copper phyllosilicate phase was formed during the preparation of the Cu/SiO2 catalysts. The copper phyllosilicate phase is considered as the dominated contribution to the special characters of the catalyst

such as large surface area

high Cu dispersion as well as strong metal support interactions. As a result

a significant high space-time yield of 4.5 g·g-1·h-1 for 1

2-propanediol and rarely good stability were achieved in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. Moreover

the strongly adsorbed glycerol at the condition of lower conversion was observed to be one of the important reasons for Cu particle growth

and this negative effect was more remarkable than that of water.