Influence of the functional groups of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on performance of Ru catalysts in sorbitol hydrogenolysis to glycols

Functional groups of CNTs acted as anchoring site for Ru and obstructed the sintering of ruthenium clusters which therefore maintained high dispersion on these catalysts. The nature of these groups played crucial role on the activity of sorbitol hydrogenolysis. The presence of a solid base promoter or nitrogen doping facilitates dehydration of polyols and subsequent deoxygenation while restraining the methanation reaction.