Effect of Cu addition to carbon-supported Ru catalysts on hydrogenation of alginic acid into sugar alcohols

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Cu addition to carbon supported Ru catalysts on the hydrogenation of macroalgae-derived alginic acid into sugar alcohols, mainly sorbitol and mannitol. Both geometric and electronic effects were determined based on results of H2-TPR, H2- or CO-chemisorption, and XPS analyses after Cu was added to Ru. The addition of Cu to Ru caused blocking of active Ru surface and electron transfer between Ru and Cu. The intimate interaction between Ru and Cu formed RuCu bimetallic clusters which expedited hydrogen spillover from Ru to Cu. The highest yield of target sugar alcohols of 47.4% was obtained when 5 wt% of Ru and 1 wt% of Cu supported on nitric acid-treated activated carbon reacted at 180 °C for 2 h. The RuCu bimetallic catalyst exhibited deactivation upon repeated reactions due to the carbon deposition on the catalyst.