Microwave-assisted base-free oxidation of glucose on gold nanoparticle catalysts

Base-free oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid with supported gold catalysts was studied using microwave heating. High conversion and selectivity were obtained in a remarkably shortened reaction time; in 10 min gluconic acid was obtained with up to 76% yields with 0.09 mol%Au/Al2O3 and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Very high turn-over frequencies over 10,000 h(-1) were measured for the microwave assisted oxidation. Moreover, the catalyst activity remained constant in four consecutive runs, even though minor particle growth was observed. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.