Hydrogenation of d-fructose over activated charcoal supported platinum catalyst

Hydrogenation of d-fructose in the presence of activated charcoal supported platinum as a catalyst was employed for the preparation of d-mannitol. The effects of the reaction time (10–120 min), reaction temperature (283–333 K), and catalyst to d-fructose ratio (1–6%) on the yield of d-mannitol were studied. 45% d-mannitol yield, 41% d-sorbitol yield, and 95% d-fructose conversion were obtained at the conditions of 120 min reaction time, 333 K reaction temperature and 6% catalyst to d-fructose ratio. The reaction kinetic was also studied and the data were modeled by zero-, first- and second-order reaction equations. In the operating regimes studied, the results show that the hydrogenation reaction is of a first order with respect to d-fructose concentration. Also the activation energy of the reaction was determined, and found to be 11 kJ/gmole.