Sulfated tin oxide as an efficient solid acid catalyst for liquid phase selective dehydration of sorbitol to isosorbide

• Sulfated tin oxides were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of stannous sulfate.
• Sulfated tin oxides were evaluated in the liquid phase dehydration of sorbitol.
• Combination of sulfate and tin enhanced isosorbide selectivity (65%) at 180 °C.
• SO4− 2/SnO2 exhibited high catalytic activity compared to sulfated zirconia.

Sulfated tin oxides (STO) with different sulfur content (1–8 wt%) were prepared via straightforward thermal decomposition of stannous sulfate. The catalyst performances of STO were investigated in liquid phase dehydration of sorbitol under solvent free condition. The calcination temperature of STO affected sulfur content and isosorbide selectivity. The STO exhibited high catalytic activity compared to sulfated zirconia affording complete conversion of sorbitol with 65% isosorbide selectivity in 2 h at 180 °C. Effects of reaction temperature, catalyst amount and reaction time on conversion and selectivity were studied and the catalyst was also reused.

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