Highly efficient isomerization of glucose to fructose over Sn-doped silica nanotube

•This work provides a highly efficient catalyst for the isomerization of glucose to fructose.•By a post-synthesis method, Sn containing non-crystalline silica nanotube (Sn-SNT) was synthesized in this work.•Sn-SNT catalyst a large amount of L acid sites without B acid site formed.•High density of Si−OH groups exist in Sn-SNT.•High fructose yield (69.1%) was obtained after reaction at 110 °C for 6 h by Sn-SNT catalyst.