Theoretical study of cellobiose conversion by supported metal catalysts

Abstract

Using density functional theory and metadynamics simulations with density functional tight-binding theory, we study cellobiose hydrolysis and glucose hydrogenation with SiO2-supported Pt and Pd catalysts in hot water, relevant to green cellulose conversion. We found that cellobiose can be hydrolyzed by hydrogen atom adsorbed on metal or proton spilled-over SiO2 to form glucose. Glucose can then be hydrogenated by hydrogen atoms adsorbed at metal/water interface forming sorbitol. The reaction barriers of hydrolysis and hydrogenation at Pt/water interface are lower than at Pd/water interface, which explains an experimental finding that Pt performs better than Pd as a catalyst.