Molecular Ruthenium Cyclopentadienone Bifunctional Catalysts for the Conversion of Sugar Platforms to Hydrogen

Abstract

Molecular ruthenium cyclopentadienone complexes were employed for the first time as pre‐catalysts in the homogeneously catalysed Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) of glucose. Shvo’s complex resulted the best pre‐catalyst (loading 2 mol%) with H2 yields up to 28.9% at 150 °C. Studies of the final mixture allowed to identify the catalyst’s resting state as a mononuclear dicarbonyl complex in the extracted organic fraction. In situ NMR experiments and HPLC analyses on the aqueous fraction gave awareness of the presence of sorbitol, fructose, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural as final fate or intermediates in the transformations under APR conditions. These results were summarized in a proposed mechanism, with particular emphasis on the steps where hydrogen was obtained as the product. Benzoquinone positively affected the catalyst activation when employed as an equimolar additive.

Enhanced hydrogen production via assisted biomass gasification using lithium manganate as a bifunctional material

“…Based on this, this work aimed to analyze the catalytic and sorption effects of Li 2 MnO 3 added during biomass pyrolysis using glucose and cellulose as model biomass molecules. 28,48,49 This study was performed using a thermobalance and a catalytic flow reactor system, with complementary techniques.…”