Promotive Selectivity to C2-C3 Polyols From Alkaline Cellulose Hydrogenated by Ionic Liquid-stablized Ru Nanoparticles

Alkaline cellulose hydrogenolysis on metal catalyst was an effective way to get C2~C3 polyols. The alkaline cellulose was obtained by treating cellulose with 4 wt% NaOH solution. Ionic liquid-stablized Ru nanoparticles were prepared by reducing metal salt in ionic liquid. The SEM results indicate that the amorphous part of alkaline cellulose is helpful for getting the catalyst into the cavities to have a further hydrogenation reaction. When hydrogenolysis of alkaline cellulose over Ru/[Bmim]BF4 nanoparticles was conducted at 433 K, 63.78% of the substrate was converted with glycerol, 1,2-propanediol and ethylene glycol as main products of which selectivity was up to 58.91 %, whereas the conversion rate over Ru/C catalyst of alkaline cellulose was 59.23 % and only 26.11 % C2~C3 polyols were detected. Moreover, if the ionic liquid-stablized Ru nanoparticles were doped with 53.7 % Ni, the selectivity of C2~C3 polyols was promoted to 65.07 %. These results suggested the advantages of the ionic liquid-stablized Ru nanoparticles, especially doping with Ni, have potentials for promotive selectivity to C2~C3 alcohols. Put forward the plausible mechanism finally.