Hydrogenolysis of Glucose in Aqueous Solution into Propylene Glycol on Copper-Containing Catalysts

Hydrogenolysis of 10% aqueous solution of glucose into propylene glycol on supported Cu-containing oxides has been studied according to target reaction C₆H₁₂O₆ + 4H₂ = 2C₃H₈O₂ + 2H₂O in a flow mode. It is shown that the best propylene glycol productivity (0.9 mmol C₃H₈O₂/(g_cat·h)) achieves on 23Cu-1Cr₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst at 180°C, 4.0 MPa H₂ under a catalyst load of 1.6 mmol C₆H₁₂O₆/(g_cat·h). Is is found that ethylene glycol, hydroxyacetone, erythritol, glycerol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, and sorbitol are side products of the reaction.