Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhijun Tai

Tao Zhang

Aiqin Wang

Mingyuan Zheng

Xiaodong Wang

Jifeng Pang

Na Ji

Jingguang Chen

Likun Zhou

This invention provides methods for producing ethylene glycol from polyhydroxy compounds such as cellulose, starch, hemicellulose, glucose, sucrose, fructose, fructan, xylose and soluble xylooligosaccharides. The methods uses polyhydroxy compounds as the reactant, a composite catalyst having active components comprising one or more transition metals of Groups 8, 9, or 10, including iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, and platinum, as well as tungsten oxide, tungsten sulfide, tungsten hydroxide, tungsten chloride, tungsten bronze oxide, tungsten acid, tungstate, metatungstate acid, metatungstate, paratungstate acid, paratungstate, peroxotungstic acid, pertungstate, heteropoly acid containing tungsten. Reacting at a temperature of 120-300&#xb0; C. and a hydrogen pressure of 1-13 MPa under hydrothermal conditions to accomplish one-step catalytic conversion. It realizes efficient, highly selective, high yield preparation of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol from polyhydroxy compounds. The advantage of processes disclosed in this invention include renewable raw material and high atom economy. At the same time, compared with other technologies that converts biomass raw materials into polyols, methods disclosed herein enjoy advantages including simple reaction process, high yield of targeted products, as well as easy preparation and low cost for the catalysts.

Methods for preparing ethylene glycol from polyhydroxy compounds

A method for producing ethylene glycol, including (a) adding a polyhydroxy compound and water to a sealed high-pressure reactor, (b) removing air and introducing hydrogen, and (c) allowing the polyhydroxy compound to react in the presence of a catalyst while stiffing. The catalyst includes a first active ingredient and a second active ingredient. The first active ingredient includes a transition metal of Group 8, 9, or 10 selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, and platinum, and/or a mixture thereof. The second active ingredient includes a metallic state of molybdenum and/or tungsten, or a carbide, nitride, or phosphide thereof. The method is carried out at a hydrogen pressure of 1-12 MPa, at a temperature of 120-300&#xb0; C. for not less than 5 min in a one-step catalytic reaction. The efficiency, selectivity, and the yield of ethylene glycol are high. The preparation process is simple and the materials used are renewable.

Method for producing ethylene glycol from polyhydroxy compound

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Dalian, China

Zhijun Tai