Efficient Glucose Hydrogenation to Sorbitol by Graphene-like Carbon-Encapsulated Ru Catalyst Synthesized by Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly and Chemical Activation

Graphene-like carbon-encapsulated Rucatalysts (Ru/GLC)were synthesized from 4-nitrocatechol by using solvent-evaporation-inducedself-assembly and chemical activation, which exhibited superior catalyticperformance for glucose hydrogenation to sorbitol with high yield,good stability and recyclability, and high turnover frequency andapplicability for high initial glucose loading. As one of the important value-added chemicals that haswide applications,the catalytic hydrogenation of glucose to sorbitol has been a hottopic in biomass upgrading. In order to support the prosperity ofthe sorbitol industry, catalysts with superior activity, higher selectivity,longer life, and lower cost are desirable. Herein, tremelliform graphene-likecarbon-encapsulated Ru catalysts (Ru/GLC) were synthesized from 4-nitrocatecholby using solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly and KHCO3 chemical activation processes. The Ru/GLC materials were used forthe catalytic hydrogenation of glucose to sorbitol, and the best Ru/GLC-600sample prepared at a 600 & DEG;C activation temperature exhibitedboth high glucose conversion of 100% and sorbitol yield of 96.8% at140 & DEG;C and 3 MPa H-2 in 120 min. The Ru/GLC-600 catalystexhibited excellent stability and durability that sorbitol yield couldbe remained at 95.4% after recycling five runs. The catalyst was applicableto concentrated glucose solutions (50 wt %) with 95.6% sorbitol yield.Compared with previously reported catalysts, Ru/GLC catalyst had lowerapparent activation energy (E (a) = 30.66kJ/mol) and higher turnover frequency (TOF = 1680.6 h(-1)). This work provides a simple one-pot synthesis strategy for graphene-likecarbon materials for metal encapsulating, and the prepared materialsexhibited high catalytic activity and stability for glucose hydrogenationto sorbitol.