• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.435-441
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• 2012

The direct conversion of cellulose into polyols in $H_2$ was examined over Pt catalysts supported on various zeolites, viz., mordenite, Y, ferrierite, and ${\beta}$. For comparison, Pt catalysts supported on ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$, $SiO_2-Al_2O_3$, and $SiO_2$ were also tested. The physical properties of the catalysts were probed with $N_2$ physisorption. The surface acidity was measured with temperature programmed desorption of ammonia ($NH_3$-TPD). The Pt content was quantified with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The Pt dispersion was determined with CO chemisorptions and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The conversion of cellulose appeared to be mainly dependent on the reaction temperature and reaction time because it depends on the concentration of $H^+$ ions reversibly formed in hot water. Pt/H-mordenite (20) showed the highest yield to polyols among the tested catalysts. Pt/H-zeolite was superior to Pt/Na-zeolite for this reaction. The polyol yield was dependent on the surface acid density and the external surface area.