Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cellulose conversion to polyols on supported Ru catalysts in aqueous basic solution

  • Articles
  • Published:
Science China Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is of great significance and challenge to achieve direct conversion of cellulose to specific polyols, e.g., ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. For such selective conversion, a novel one-pot approach was studied by combination of alkaline hydrolysis and hydrogenation on supported Ru catalysts. A wide range of bases including solid bases, e.g., Ca(OH)2 and La2O3, and phosphate buffers were examined in the cellulose reaction in water, and the cellulose conversions and polyol products depended largely on the basicity or pH values in the aqueous solutions. Ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, and especially 1,2,5-pentanetriol were obtained with selectivities of 15%, 14% and 22%, respectively, at 38% cellulose conversion at pH 8 in phosphate buffer solution. These preliminary results provide potentials for efficient conversion of cellulose to targeted polyols by using the advantages of bases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Huber GW, Iborra S, Corma A. Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: Chemistry, catalysts, and engineering. Chem Rev, 2006, 106: 4044–4098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Corma A, Iborra S, Velty A. Chemical routes for the transformation of biomass into chemicals. Chem Rev, 2007, 107: 2411–2502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ragauskas AJ, Williams CK, Davison BH, Britovsek G, Cairney J, Eckert CA, Frederick WJ, Hallett JP, Leak DJ, Liotta CL, Mielenz JR, Murphy R, Templer R, Tschaplinski T. The path forward for biofuels and biomaterials. Science, 2006, 311: 484–489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Binder JB, Raines RT. Simple chemical transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into furans for fuels and chemicals. J Am Chem Soc, 2009, 131: 1979–1985

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shen Y, Wang S, Luo C, Liu H. Biomass-derived polyols as new bio-platform molecules for sustainable production of fuels and chemicals (in Chinese). Prog Chem, 2007, 19: 431–436

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Yan N, Zhao C, Luo C, Dyson PJ, Liu H, Kou Y. One-step conversion of cellobiose to C6-alcohols using a ruthenium nanocluster catalyst. J Am Chem Soc, 2006, 128: 8714–8715

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fukuoka A, Dhepe PL. Catalytic conversion of cellulose into sugar alcohols. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2006, 45: 5161–5163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Luo C, Wang S, Liu H. Cellulose conversion into polyols catalyzed by reversibly formed acids and supported ruthenium clusters in hot water. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2007, 46: 7636–7639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Klemm D, Heublein B, Fink HP, Bohn A. Cellulose: Fascinating biopolymer and sustainable raw material. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2005, 44: 3358–3393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Suganuma S, Nakajima K, Kitano M, Yamaguchi D, Kato H, Hayashi S, Hara M. Hydrolysis of cellulose by amorphous carbon bearing SO3H, COOH, and OH groups. J Am Chem Soc, 2008, 130: 12787–12793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Onda A, Ochi T, Yanagisawa K. Selective hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose over solid acid catalysts. Green Chem, 2008, 10: 1033–1037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Pala H, Mota M, Gama FM. Enzymatic depolymerisation of cellulose. Carbohydr Polym, 2007, 68: 101–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar S, Gupta RB. Hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose in subcritical and supercritical water in a continuous flow reactor. Ind Eng Chem Res, 2008, 47: 9321–9329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ji N, Zhang T, Zheng MY, Wang AQ, Wang H, Wang XD, Chen JGG. Direct catalytic conversion of cellulose into ethylene glycol using nickel-promoted tungsten carbide catalysts. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2008, 47: 8510–8513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Yen-Ning K, Hong J. Investigation of solubility of microcrystalline cellulose in aqueous NaOH. Polym Adv Technol, 2005, 16: 425–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Moreau C, Durand R, Roux A, Tichit D. Isomerization of glucose into fructose in the presence of cation-exchanged zeolites and hydrotalcites. Appl Catal A Gen, 2000, 193: 257–264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Maris EP, Davis RJ. Hydrogenolysis of glycerol over carbon-supported Ru and Pt catalysts. J Catal, 2007, 249: 328–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bobleter O. Hydrothermal degradation of polymers derived from plants. Prog Polym Sci, 1994, 19: 797–841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yu Y, Lou X, Wu HW. Some recent advances in hydrolysis of biomass in hot-compressed, water and its comparisons with other hydrolysis methods. Energy Fuels, 2008, 22: 46–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Costantino U, Marmottini F, Nocchetti M, Vivani R. New synthetic routes to hydrotalcite-like compounds—Characterisation and properties of the obtained materials. Eur J Inorg Chem, 1998: 1439-1446

  21. Yamaguchi A, Hiyoshi N, Sato O, Bando KK, Shirai M. Enhancement of cyclic ether formation from polyalcohol compounds in high temperature liquid water by high pressure carbon dioxide. Green Chem, 2009, 11: 48–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hercouet A, Bessières B, LeCorre M, Toupet L. Synthesis of optically active 2,3-methanopipecolic acid. Tetrahedron Lett, 1996, 37: 4529–4532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lukes RM, Nelson LS. The concurrent hydrogenation and hydrolysis of furfuryl alcohol. J Org Chem, 1956, 21: 1096–1098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Knill CJ, Kennedy JF. Degradation of cellulose under alkaline conditions. Carbohydr Polym, 2003, 51: 281–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Stable and Unstable Species, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    TianYin Deng, JiYing Sun & HaiChao Liu

  2. Green Chemistry Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    TianYin Deng, JiYing Sun & HaiChao Liu

Authors
  1. TianYin Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. JiYing Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. HaiChao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to HaiChao Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deng, T., Sun, J. & Liu, H. Cellulose conversion to polyols on supported Ru catalysts in aqueous basic solution. Sci. China Chem. 53, 1476–1480 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4002-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4002-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation