Efficient synthesis of ethylene glycol from cellulose over Ni–WO3/SBA-15 catalysts

Ni–WO 3 /SBA-15 catalysts were prepared by an impregnation way and applied to the hydrogenolysis of cellulose in aqueous solution. The effect of nickel and WO 3 loading, catalysts reduction temperature and time on cellulose conversion were investigated. Up to 70.7% ethylene glycol yield was obtained over 3%Ni–15%WO 3 /SBA-15 catalysts. Several physicochemical methods such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, NH 3 -TPD, H 2 -TPR and XPS were used to determine the character of catalysts. Based on these studies, it was found that there was a strong electronic interaction between NiO and WO 3 , which not only promoted the reduction of WO 3 , but restrained the reduction of NiO. Together with the experimental results, it can be concluded that the WO 3− X , which may be the active species for the selective cleavage of C C bond, was formed after catalysts pretreatment process. Additionally, a possible catalytic mechanism was proposed.