Selective oxidation of glucose over transitional metal oxides based magnetic core-shell nanoparticles

Cationic transition metal (Cu and Co) based core-shell (core: magnetite, shell: SiO2, ZrO2 or CeO2) magnetic nanoparticles were investigated in the selective oxidation of D-glucose to gluconic (GLU) and glucuronic (GLUU) acids, working at low temperature, with H2O2 as oxidant and in the absence of any base in the liquid phase. The catalysts have been characterized by FTIR, XRD, NH3- and CO2-TPD and TGA-DTA analyses. Under the optimal reaction conditions (i.e., 40 degrees C and 10 h), the highest conversion of D-glucose was of 86.2 % and the selectivities to GLU and GLUU of 33.8 % and 14.6 %, respectively. These results corresponded to the MSA@Co (were: M - magnetite; S - silica shell, A -APTES) catalyst. This catalyst can be easily recovered by a simple external magnet and reused several consecutive runs, without any change in the catalytic efficiency.

Automated summary

Cationic transition metal-based core-shell magnetic nanoparticles were successfully used as catalysts for the selective oxidation of D-glucose at low temperature. Under the optimal conditions, a high conversion rate of 86.2% and good selectivities to GLU and GLUU were achieved. The catalysts also showed excellent stability and reusability.