Ru-supported on mesoporous silica as active catalyst for the hydrolysis of the hemicellulosic fraction of wheat bran

Abstract

Extraction and Hydrolysis of arabinoxylans have been studied using RuCl3 catalysts over different mesoporous silica supports. Acidity of the catalyst is a key parameter for these processes: the higher the Acidity, the higher the Yield. Ru+3 has demonstrated to be active, as it is a moderate Lewis acid. Arabinose is always faster released than xylose: Arabinose belongs to side chains and it is linked by beta-glycosidic bonds (weak). Xylose belongs to the backbone and it is linked by β -glycosidic bonds (strong).