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Direct Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose into Ethylene Glycol Using Nickel‐Promoted Tungsten Carbide Catalysts
Author(s) -
Ji Na,
Zhang Tao,
Zheng Mingyuan,
Wang Aiqin,
Wang Hui,
Wang Xiaodong,
Chen Jingguang G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.200803233
Subject(s) - catalysis , ethylene glycol , nickel , tungsten carbide , cellulose , tungsten , ethylene , carbide , materials science , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
Nickel saves dimes : The expense of using precious‐metal catalysts is avoided in the high‐yielding conversion of cellulose to ethylene glycol (see picture; AC=activated carbon). This process occurs in up to 29 % yield over a tungsten carbide catalyst, and in up to 61 % yield when the catalyst is promoted with a small amount of nickel. An attractive feature of this reaction is the low yields of other polyols with respect to ethylene glycol.