Catalytic production of hydrogen from glucose and other carbohydrates under exceptionally mild reaction conditions

A catalytic reaction system for the production of hydrogen from sugars and even water-insoluble biomass like cellulose is presented. The reaction system is based on an ionic liquid that has the role to dissolve the carbohydrate feedstock and a ruthenium catalyst. As hydrogen dissolves in this media at very low level, hydrogen consuming side reactions have been hindered, leading to a gaseous product mixture consisting mainly of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Investigations with isotopic labelling suggest a reaction sequence in which glucose first thermally decomposes to formic acid followed by Ru-catalyzed decomposition of the latter to hydrogen and CO2.