Enhanced conversion of cellulose to ethanol and propanol using a mesoporous Pt-WOx/Nb2O5 catalyst

The effective utilization of biomass is essential for addressing environmental challenges. The direct conversion of cellulose into chemicals and fuels is a key step in fostering a sustainable society. In this study, a mesoporous Pt-WO x /Nb 2 O 5 catalyst is synthesized and characterized using N 2 sorption, XRD, ICP, CO pulse, TEM, SEM, NH 3 -TPD, PY-IR, H 2 -TPR, and XPS. Under optimized catalyst preparation and reaction conditions, the yields of ethanol and propanol reach 50.3 % and 20.2 %, respectively. The mesoporous structure of Nb 2 O 5 , coupled with Pt, provides a rich balance of acidic and hydrogenation-active sites. Additionally, WO x plays a crucial role in the C C bond cleavage of cellulosic glucose and the C O bond cleavage of ethylene glycol, facilitating ethanol formation through Pt and the abundant Lewis acid sites from Nb 2 O 5 .