One Pot Synthesis of Bio-Ethylene Glycol from Cellulose

Abstract

In this study, various composite Ni-W2C/active carbon catalysts were synthesized. W2C was prepared by carbothermal hydrogen reduction. The metal loading of W2C in catalyst was 30 wt.%. Carbon was impregnated with metatungstate. It was dried at 120?C for 12 h. Carbon was then carburized in H2 flow, the temperature was increased from 25?C to 450?C, and then to 800?C and stayed for 4 h. The W2C/active carbon was treated with H2SO4 to create more function groups on the surface. Ni-W2C/active carbon was prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation method. After calcination and reduction processes in H2 flow, Ni-W2C/active carbon catalyst was obtained. The reaction of cellulose to ethylene glycol in one step was carried out in a batch reactor under the following condition: 1 g cellulose, 0.3 g catalyst, 100 ml H2O, 4 - 6 MPa H2, 220?C - 280?C, and 400 rpm. The reaction between cellulose and catalyst is a solid-solid reaction; therefore, the contact between these two solid materials is important. Long ball milling time would increase the contact between these two solids. The ball milling time and the functional groups on active carbon play important roles in this reaction. The results demonstrated that one pot synthesis of EG from cellulose is economically and technically feasible.