Bimetallic Ru:Ni/MCM-48 Catalysts for the Effective Hydrogenation of D-Glucose into Sorbitol

Abstract

Three different bimetallic Ru:Ni catalysts supported on a mesoporous silica MCM-48 were prepared byconsecutive wet impregnations, with a total metal loading of ca. 3% (w w−1). Ru:Ni ratios spanned in therange of 0.15–1.39 (w w−1) and were compared with the corresponding monometallic Ni/MCM-48. Thecatalysts so prepared were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, adsorp-tion/desorption of N2, Temperature Programmed Reduction, NH3− TPD and Atomic Absorption, andtested in the liquid phase hydrogenation of d-glucose into sorbitol in the temperature range 120–140◦Cunder 2.5 MPa of H2pressure. Bimetallic catalysts with Ru:Ni ratios higher than 0.45 enhanced the cat-alytic behavior of the monometallic Ni/MCM-48 in the reaction, increasing the reaction rate and showingcomplete selectivity to sorbitol by minimizing the production of mannitol. Ru:Ni/MCM-48 (0.45) wasrecovered from the reaction media and tested for three reaction cycles, showing good stability under theselected experimental conditions.