One-PotTransformation of Cellulose to Sugar Alcoholsover Acidic Metal Phosphates Combined with Ru/C.

ZrPwith large surface, mesoporous volume, and size was prepared.Its catalytic performance was evaluated in hydrolytic hydrogenationof cellulose to sorbitol/mannitol combined with commercial Ru/C. Asignificantly enhanced sorbitol/mannitol yield was obtained as comparedwith that of the water-soluble acidic phosphates and buffer solutionof potassium acid phthalate combined with the same Ru/C. The enhancedyield was attributed to the Lewis and Brönsted acid on ZrPsurface improving the surface’s absorption and activation forcellulose and accelerating the rate-determined hydrolysis step. Themaximal sorbitol/mannitol yield of 63% and 81% could be obtained byusing microcrystalline and ball milling cellulose as the feedstock,respectively. The ZrP combined with Ru/C was adaptable to the highconcentrated cellulose and obtained 5.8 wt % of sorbitol/mannitolconcentration. The remarkably enhanced cellulose hydrolysis by ZrPsharply decreased the use of Ru/C, which is significant for the essentialapplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]