Glucose-based carbon materials as supports for the efficient catalytic transformation of cellulose directly to ethylene glycol

Abstract

Glucose-derived carbon materials were synthesized and used to support Ru–W bimetallic catalysts that provide the one-pot conversion of cellulose to ethylene glycol (EG). The catalysts prepared on the carbonized glucose (after hydrothermal synthesis and carbonization) were the most efficient for the production of EG, with yields around 30% after 5 h. Moreover, the addition of oxygenated groups to the carbon material surface enhanced the yield of EG (48% after 3 h), possibly as a result of the preferential hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose and suppressing of glucose isomerization to fructose. Furthermore, the catalytic system showed excellent stability after repeated uses, at least up to three cycles. As a result, the synthesized catalysts seem to be promising alternatives in order to produce EG directly from cellulose by a more economical (supports derived from biomass), faster (one-pot reaction) and easier (combined catalyst synthesis) process. Glucose-derived carbon materials were presented as efficient and cheaper alternatives to carbon nanotubes as supports of Ru–W catalysts for the production of EG directly from cellulose.