Kinetic insight into the effect of the catalytic functions on selective conversion of cellulose to polyols on carbon-supported WO3 and Ru catalysts

- WO3/C and Ru/C catalyze cellulose conversion to polyols including sorbitol, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
- Crystalline WO3 catalyzes selective cleavage of C-C bonds in sugar intermediates involved in cellulose reaction.
- C support acts as a solid base to catalyze glucose isomerization into fructose.
- Polyol product distribution is controllable rationally by tuning the catalyst functions for the competitive reactions of glucose intermediate.
- Kinetic analysis of the competitive glucose reactions can predict the maximum yield of propylene glycol in cellulose reaction.