Low-Cost Ni-W Catalysts Supported on Glucose/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Carbons for Sustainable Ethylene Glycol Synthesis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Rafael Morais (Author) FEUP; Lucília Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; José Melo Orfão (Author) FEUP; Manuel Fernando R Pereira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Molecules

Vol. 29

Final page: 3962

ISSN: 1420-3049

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Associated Projects

LA LSRE-LCM - Financiamento Plurianual 2020-2023 para a Unidade LA LSRE-LCM Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

ALiCE - ALiCE - Laboratório Associado em Engenharia Química

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-016-TWQ

DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163962

Abstract (EN): The production of ethylene glycol (EG) from cellulose has garnered significant attention in recent years as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels due to the potential of cellulose as a renewable and sustainable feedstock. In this work, to the best of our knowledge, a series of low-cost Ni-W bimetallic catalysts supported on glucose/carbon nanotube hybrid carbons were synthesised for the first time and employed to transform cellulose into EG. Two different strategies were combined for the preparation of the carbons: the activation and addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to obtain a hybrid material (AG-CNT). The catalytic conversion process proceeded through cellulose hydrolysis to glucose, followed by glucose retro-aldol condensation to glycolaldehyde and its subsequent hydrogenation to EG. Through the optimisation of the catalyst's properties, particularly the metals' content, a good synergistic effect of C-C bond cleavage and hydrogenation capabilities was assured, resulting in the highly selective production of EG. The balance between Ni and W active sites was confirmed to be a crucial parameter. Thus, total cellulose conversion (100%) was achieved with EG yields of 60-62%, which are amongst the best yields ever reported for the catalytic conversion of cellulose into EG via carbon-supported catalysts.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13