Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2015, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (9): 1614-1622.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(15)60928-7

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Sorbitol hydrogenolysis to glycerol and glycols over M-MgO (M=Ni, Co, Cu) nanocomposite: A comparative study of active metals

Xicheng Wanga, Xiaoran Liua,b, Yue Xuc, Gongming Penga, Quan Caoa, Xindong Mua   

  1. a Key Laboratory of Bio-based Materials, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, Shandong, China;
    b University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    c School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2015-04-01 Revised:2015-06-05 Online:2015-08-28 Published:2015-09-26
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21273260, 21433001), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholar, China (JQ201305), and the "135" Projects Fund of CAS-QIBEBT Director Innovation Foundation.

Abstract:

The activities and selectivities of MgO-supported Ni, Cu, and Co catalysts have been compared in aqueous-phase hydrogenolysis of sorbitol to glycerol and glycols. All catalysts effectively catalyzed the sorbitol conversion into C2 and C3 polyols like glycerol, 1,2-propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol, but with different product distributions. The differences in activities and selectivities are ascribed to their different dehydrogenation/hydrogenation activities. The influences of base promoter, temperature, H2 pressure, and reaction time were also studied. Added base promoter and prolonged reaction time enhanced sorbitol conversion for the three catalysts, but led to product degradation and decreased selectivity over Ni-MgO and Co-MgO, whereas selectivity maintained almost unchanged over Cu-MgO.

Key words: Biomass, Hydrogenolysis, Sorbitol, Magnesia, Supported metal catalyst, Bifunctional catalyst