Selective hydrogenolysis of xylitol to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol over copper catalysts

- CuSiO2 catalysts are efficient in xylitol hydrogenolysis in the presence of Ca(OH)2.
- A 54.4% selectivity to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol at nearly 100% xylitol conversion was obtained at 473 K and 6 MPa H2.
- The catalytic activity and selectivity of the CuSiO2 catalysts depend sensitively on their Cu particle sizes in a wide range of 2.1-111.1 nm.