Hydrogenation of aqueous xylose (20 wt %) solution to produce xylitol was carried out in continuous fix bed reactor over the NiO-modified TiO2 (NiO-TiO2) supported ruthenium catalyst (schematic diagram is shown in figure 1). Figure 1. <img src='https://acs-archive-assets2.s3.amazonaws.com/marm_2010/uploads/32504_graphical_abstract.jpg' alt='' /> The ruthenium catalyst was prepared by simple impregnation method and then pelletized. After reduction, ruthenium particles distributed homogeneously throughout the (NiO-TiO2) support were also very small with average size around 2.0 nm. Hydrogenation experiment was conducted at 100o C under 80 bar hydrogen (H2) pressure at 200 cc/min flow rate. The conversion and xylitol selectivity were studied as a function of residence time. The catalyst gives the total conversion of xylose (~99.9%) with highest xylitol selectivity (~99.7%). During continuous hydrogenation experiment, the liquid flow rate was adjusted to achieve the highest xylitol selectivity because any increase in residence time may cause more the formation of by-product i.e. arabitol. The activity of catalyst was sustained over several weeks and no leaching of ruthenium was detected.

Hydrogenation of xylose in continuous fixed bed reactor to produce xylitol over the NiO-modified TiO2 supported ruthenium catalyst

247th National Meeting (2014)

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