Carbon nanofibers supported Ru catalyst for sorbitol hydrogenolysis to glycols: Effect of calcination

Carbon nanofiber (CNFs) supported Ru catalysts for sorbitol hydrogenolysis to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation, calcination and reduction. The effect of calcination on catalyst properties was investigated using thermal gravimetry analysis, temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and N-2 physisorption. The results indicated that calcination introduced a great amount of surface oxygen-containing groups (SOCGs) onto CNF surface and induced the phase transformation of Ru species, but slightly changed the texture of Ru/CNFs. The catalytic performance in sorbitol hydrogenolysis showed that Ru/CNFs catalyst calcined at 240 degrees C presented the highest glycol selectivities and reasonable glycol yields. It was believed that the inhibition and confinement effect of SOCGs around Ru particles as well as the high dispersion of Ru particles was the key factor for the catalytic activity.