Abstract

Cellobiose was used as a model feedstock to probe the reaction pathways of cellulose to ethylene glycol (EG). Its reactivity was compared with that of glucose using a catalyst composed of H2WO4 and Ru/C. EG can be produced by both the direct retro-aldol condensation of cellobiose and the retro-aldol condensation of glucose derived from cellobiose hydrolysis. The direct retro-aldol condensation of cellobiose further promoted the hydrolysis of cellobiose. Cellobiose has a lower reactivity for retro-aldol condensation than glucose, which decreased the formation rate of glycolaldehyde and made it more matched with the subsequent hydrogenation rate, thus leading to increased yield of EG from cellobiose.

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