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Selective Production of 1,2‐Propylene Glycol from Jerusalem Artichoke Tuber using Ni–W 2 C/AC Catalysts
Author(s) -
Zhou Likun,
Wang Aiqin,
Li Changzhi,
Zheng Mingyuan,
Zhang Tao
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201100545
Subject(s) - catalysis , chemistry , fructose , jerusalem artichoke , dihydroxyacetone , hydrolysis , glyceraldehyde , product distribution , glycolaldehyde , aldol reaction , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , glycerol , food science , enzyme , dehydrogenase
A series of Ni‐promoted W 2 C/activated carbon (AC) catalysts were investigated for the catalytic conversion of Jerusalem artichoke tuber (JAT) under hydrothermal conditions and hydrogen pressure. Even a small amount of Ni could greatly promote the conversion of JAT to 1,2‐propylene glycol (1,2‐PG), whereas the pure W 2 C/AC catalyst resulted in the selective formation of acetol. The product distribution profiles involving the reaction temperature, time, and H 2 pressure indicated that 1,2‐PG formed as a result of acetol hydrogenation, which was catalyzed by Ni. Thus, there was a synergy between W 2 C and Ni, and the best performance yielded 38.5 % of 1,2‐PG over a 4 % Ni–20 % W 2 C/AC catalyst at 245 °C, 6 M Pa H 2 , and 80 min. To understand the reaction process, some important intermediates, such as inulin, fructose, acetol, glyceraldehyde, and 1,3‐dihydroxyacetone, were used as the feedstock. Based on the product distributions derived from these intermediates, a reaction pathway was proposed, where JAT was first hydrolyzed into a mixture of fructose and glucose under the catalysis of H + , then the sugars underwent a retro‐aldol reaction followed by hydrogenation catalyzed by Ni–W 2 C.