Insights into the effect of the catalytic functions on selective production of ethylene glycol from lignocellulosic biomass over carbon supported ruthenium and tungsten catalysts

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Lucília Sousa Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; José J. Melo Orfão (Author) FEUP; Manuel Fernando Ribeiro Pereira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Bioresource Technology

Vol. 263

Pages: 402-409

ISSN: 0960-8524

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

INSPEC

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-2C6

DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.05.034

Abstract (EN): The one-pot conversion of cellulose to ethylene glycol (EG) was investigated using a combination of a ruthenium catalyst supported on carbon nanotubes modified with nitric acid (Ru/CNT1) and a tungsten catalyst supported on commercial non-treated carbon nanotubes (W/CNT0). This physical mixture allowed to obtain an EG yield of 41% in just 5 h at 205 degrees C and 50 bar of H-2, which overcame the result obtained using a Ru-W bimetallic catalyst supported on commercial carbon nanotubes (35%) under the same conditions. Tissue paper, a potential waste cellulosic material, and eucalyptus were also tested under the same conditions and EG yields of 34 and 36%, respectively, were attained over the aforementioned catalytic physical mixture. To the best of our knowledge, this work presents for the first time the catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic materials, namely tissue paper and eucalyptus, directly into EG by an environmentally friendly process.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8