One-Pot Transformation of Cellulose to Sugar Alcohols over Acidic Metal Phosphates Combined with Ru/C

ZrP with large surface, mesoporous volume, and size was prepared. Its catalytic performance was evaluated in hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose to sorbitol/mannitol combined with commercial Ru/C. A significantly enhanced sorbitol/mannitol yield was obtained as compared with that of the water-soluble acidic phosphates and buffer solution of potassium acid phthalate combined with the same Ru/C. The enhanced yield was attributed to the Lewis and Brönsted acid on ZrP surface improving the surface’s absorption and activation for cellulose and accelerating the rate-determined hydrolysis step. The maximal sorbitol/mannitol yield of 63% and 81% could be obtained by using microcrystalline and ball milling cellulose as the feedstock, respectively. The ZrP combined with Ru/C was adaptable to the high concentrated cellulose and obtained 5.8 wt % of sorbitol/mannitol concentration. The remarkably enhanced cellulose hydrolysis by ZrP sharply decreased the use of Ru/C, which is significant for the essential application.