Selective Conversion of Cellulose to Hydroxyacetone and 1-Hydroxy-2-Butanone with Sn-Ni Bimetallic Catalysts

The high-value-added chemicals hydroxyacetone (HA) and 1-hydroxy-2-butanone (HB) were produced from agricultural waste over a Ni3Sn4-SnOx catalyst. The Sn-Ni intermetallic compound and SnOx acted as the active sites for HA and HB production by selectively cleaving the target C-C and C-O bonds. Approximately 70% of the total HA and HB yield was obtained by selective hydrogenolysis of cellulose. This strategy expands the application of cellulose towards renewable production of high-value C-3 and C-4 keto-alcohols from cellulosic biomass.