Issue 20, 2018, Issue in Progress

Insight into the efficient catalytic conversion of biomass to EG and 1,2-PG over W–Ni bimetallic catalyst

Abstract

In this work, a mesoporous silica microsphere (MSM) was selected as a support to prepare a bimetallic supported catalyst (15% W–5% Ni/MSM) by a co-impregnation method that was simple and easy to conduct. We wished to improve the capability of catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,2-propylene glycol (1,2-PG). 15% W–5% Ni/MSM was examined on microcrystalline cellulose (cellulose) and corn stalks in a one-pot catalytic process, and total yields of EG and 1,2-PG reached up to 82.40 wt% and 62.60 wt%, respectively. This remarkable catalytic performance of W–Ni/MSM catalyst could be attributed to the synergistic effect between the active sites of Ni and W and the unique structure of MSM, which was suitable for mass transfer and metal loading. Based on physicochemical characterizations, the metal component was well-distributed on the surface of the MSM, and the metallic Ni, W and WO3 of the fresh catalyst were converted mainly into NiWO4 during the catalytic conversion of cellulose. To shed light on the reaction mechanism of the catalyzed hydrogenation of biomass, a possible process involving the formation of HxWO3 homogeneous catalysts, cellulose hydrolysis, C–C cleavage and hydrogenation conversion to 1,2-PG and EG was illustrated. Furthermore, the reusability of W–Ni/MSM catalyst was tested and we explored the cause of decreased diols yields. In summary, this work provides important guidance to rationally design effective catalysts for biomass conversion.

Graphical abstract: Insight into the efficient catalytic conversion of biomass to EG and 1,2-PG over W–Ni bimetallic catalyst

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Jan 2018
Accepted
26 Feb 2018
First published
19 Mar 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2018,8, 10907-10913

Insight into the efficient catalytic conversion of biomass to EG and 1,2-PG over W–Ni bimetallic catalyst

M. Li, Y. Ma, X. Ma, Y. Sun and Z. Song, RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 10907 DOI: 10.1039/C8RA00584B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications, without requesting further permission from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given and it is not used for commercial purposes.

To request permission to reproduce material from this article in a commercial publication, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party commercial publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements