A carbonized cassava dregs-supported ruthenium nanoparticles catalyst (Ru/CCD) was prepared by a simple impregnation-chemical reduction method. The synthesized Ru/CCD catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic performances of the Ru/CCD catalysts were evaluated in the conversion of D-glucose into D-sorbitol under hydrogen atmosphere. Moreover, the effects of various parameters on glucose hydrogenation and the recyclability of the catalysts were investigated in detail. The optimized D-sorbitol yield reached up to 98.6% at 120 °C for 1.5 h with D-glucose conversion of 99.7%. The Ru nanoparticles played an important role in the hydrogenation of D-glucose into D-sorbitol, and the Ru particle was widely dispersed all over the support surface. In addition, the Ru/CCD catalyst was stable during the reaction and was reused for up to five successive runs with a slight decrease in D-sorbitol yield. Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510640, China; * Corresponding authors: amyliu@scut.edu.cn, shubinwu@scut.edu.cn
Keywords: Cassava dregs; Ruthenium; D-Glucose; D-Sorbitol Contact information: State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of
INTRODUCTIONWith the gradual depletion of fossil feedstock and the deteriorating pollution situation, new renewable alternatives to fossil feedstock are being explored (Zhang et al. 2012;Xi et al. 2013;Dabbawala et al. 2016). Biomass, a sustainable resource for the energy and carbon cycles in nature, has aroused worldwide attention (Kobayashi et al. 2011;Han and Lee 2012;Liao et al. 2014;Zhu et al. 2014). Cassava dregs, a waste byproduct with a large lignocellulosic component, are generated during the cassava-based bioethanol production (He et al. 2014;Kristensen et al. 2014;Nguyen et al. 2014). DSorbitol is an important chemical intermediate and a new energy chemical that has significant applications in food, medicine, textiles, and cosmetics, as well as in the chemical industry (Deng et al. 2010;Zheng et al. 2010;Liu et al. 2011;Chen et al. 2013;Negoi et al. 2014;Ribeiro et al. 2017).Recently, D-sorbitol has been produced by catalytic hydrogenation of D-glucose in industrial production. A Raney-type Ni catalyst has been developed for the production of D-sorbitol. However, the Ni in the Raney-type Ni catalyst easily leaches into the solution . In addition, the easy deactivation of the catalyst is an important issue with Raney-type Ni catalysts (Dabbawala et al. 2016). To overcome the drawbacks of the Raney-type Ni catalysts, several catalysts have been applied in the hydrogenation of Dglucose, especially Ru-based catalysts (Mishra et al. 2014;Lazaridis et al. 2015). The Rubased catalysts have higher activity than Raney-type Ni catalysts. Furthermore, the Ru-PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLE bioresources.com Li et al. (2018). "Cassava dregs support for catalyst," BioResources 13(1), 1278-1288. 1279 based catalysts...