Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose to Ethylene Glycol over a Low-Cost Binary Catalyst of Raney Ni and Tungstic Acid

Following our previous report on the selective transformation of cellulose to ethylene glycol (EG) over a binary catalyst composed of tungstic acid and Ru/C, we herein report a new low-cost but more effective binary catalyst by using Raney nickel in place of Ru/C (Raney Ni+H2WO4). In addition to tungstic acid, other W compounds were also investigated in combination with Raney Ni. The results showed that the EG yield depended on the W compound: H4SiW12O40