Abstract

Developing a structured catalyst was performed successfully, and carbon-coated aluminum foam-supported ruthenium catalysts were prepared. Seven different characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, carbon monoxide chemisorption, and nitrogen physisorption were applied on the solid catalysts. The carbon-coated foams were checked for their mechanical stability, and the results indicated that the foam catalysts were mechanically stable. The Ru/C foam catalysts were used in a multiphase reactor setup, which had six tubular reactors working in parallel. Continuous hydrogenation of D-glucose, L-arabinose, and a mixture of L-arabinose and D-galactose was studied in the experimental setup. Through investigating different reaction parameters, the temperatures 100-110 degrees C and the liquid flow rates 0.5-1 mL/min were found to be suitable for catalyst screening and activity testing. The experiments were carried out at 20 bar hydrogen pressure. The continuous hydrogenation experiments were successful, the reproducibility was good, and the foam catalysts were stable. High selectivities of the desired products, sugar alcohols and sugar alcohol mixtures, were obtained.