EFFICIENT CONVERSION OF SUGARS TO SUGAR ALCOHOLS IN PRESENCE OF RU/C CATALYST UNDER MILD REACTION CONDITION

Sugar alcohols (xylitol and sorbitol) produced from biomass derived xylose and glucose finds wide industrial application in food and pharmaceutical industries. Hence, it is worth producing these sugar alcohols under mild reaction conditions at low temperature and low H2 pressure with concentrated feed (sugar) solution. In this work, Ru metal supported on carbon was used as a catalyst to convert xylose and glucose to yield xylitol and sorbitol, respectively. A 98% yield of xylitol and sorbitol was achieved under 0.5 MPa H2 at 100°C. Under low H2 pressure (0.2 MPa) at 100°C, 94% yield of xylitol and 91% yield of sorbitol was obtained. A 98% yield of sugar alcohols (xylitol and sorbitol) was achieved with 40 wt.% sugar solution under 1 MPa H2.