Glucose isomerization catalyzed by swollen cellulose derived aluminum-hydrochar

Since efficient isomerization of glucose to fructose is vital for valorizing cellulose fraction of biomass to valueadded chemicals, an approach of engineering aluminum-hydrochar catalyst by impregnating aluminum on swollen cellulose derived hydrochar has been studied. The results showed that Al-hydrochar calcinated at 300 degrees C achieved fructose yield of 26.3% in acetone/H2O reaction medium. It was found that the amorphous Al structures with nano-size on the surface of the carbon microspheres were the major contributor of the catalytic activity on glucose to fructose isomerization, while the formation of Al crystal had an inhibition effect on glucose isomerization. The deactivation study of Al-hydrochar catalysts showed the exfoliation of colloidal carbon containing aluminum active catalytic sites. This finding provides a novel strategy for efficient isomerization of glucose by Al-hydrochar prepared through hydrothermal carbonization and mild calcination activation process. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Efficient isomerization of glucose to fructose is achieved by impregnating aluminum on hydrochar derived from cellulose, with amorphous Al structures on the catalyst surface playing a key role in catalytic activity. The formation of Al crystals, on the other hand, inhibits glucose isomerization. This study presents a novel strategy for glucose isomerization using Al-hydrochar prepared through hydrothermal carbonization and mild calcination activation process.