SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

中国化学工程学报 ›› 2024, Vol. 66 ›› Issue (2): 310-331.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2023.09.013

• Review • 上一篇    

Reaction pathways and selectivity in the chemo-catalytic conversion of cellulose and its derivatives to ethylene glycol: A review

Yao Li1, Yuchun Zhang1, Zhiyu Li1, Huiyan Zhang2, Peng Fu1   

  1. 1. College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
  • 收稿日期:2023-06-06 修回日期:2023-09-05 出版日期:2024-02-28 发布日期:2024-04-20
  • 通讯作者: Huiyan Zhang,E-mail:hyzhang@seu.edu.cn;Peng Fu,E-mail:fupeng@sdut.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51976112, 52206264), special Project Fund of “Taishan Scholar” of Shandong Province (tsqn202103066), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2022ME109).

Reaction pathways and selectivity in the chemo-catalytic conversion of cellulose and its derivatives to ethylene glycol: A review

Yao Li1, Yuchun Zhang1, Zhiyu Li1, Huiyan Zhang2, Peng Fu1   

  1. 1. College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
  • Received:2023-06-06 Revised:2023-09-05 Online:2024-02-28 Published:2024-04-20
  • Contact: Huiyan Zhang,E-mail:hyzhang@seu.edu.cn;Peng Fu,E-mail:fupeng@sdut.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51976112, 52206264), special Project Fund of “Taishan Scholar” of Shandong Province (tsqn202103066), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2022ME109).

摘要: Biomass-to-ethylene glycol is an effective means to achieve high-value utilisation of cellulose but is hindered by low conversion efficiency and poor catalyst activity and stability. Glucose and cellobiose are derivatives of cellulose conversion to ethylene glycol, and it is found that studying the reaction process of both can help to understand the reaction mechanism of cellulose. It is desirable to develop a reusable, highly active catalyst to convert cellulose into ethylene glycol. This ideal catalyst might have one or more active sites described the conversion steps above. Here, we discuss the catalyst development of cellulose-to-ethylene glycol, including tungsten, tin, lanthanide, and other transition metal catalysts, and special attention is given to the reaction mechanism and kinetics for preparing ethylene glycol from cellulose, and the economic advantages of biomass-to-ethylene glycol are briefly introduced. The insights given in this review will facilitate further development of efficient catalysts, for addressing the global energy crisis and climate change related to the use of fossil fuels.

关键词: Ethylene glycol, Cellulose, Catalyst, Retro-aldol condensation, Hydrolysis, Kinetics

Abstract: Biomass-to-ethylene glycol is an effective means to achieve high-value utilisation of cellulose but is hindered by low conversion efficiency and poor catalyst activity and stability. Glucose and cellobiose are derivatives of cellulose conversion to ethylene glycol, and it is found that studying the reaction process of both can help to understand the reaction mechanism of cellulose. It is desirable to develop a reusable, highly active catalyst to convert cellulose into ethylene glycol. This ideal catalyst might have one or more active sites described the conversion steps above. Here, we discuss the catalyst development of cellulose-to-ethylene glycol, including tungsten, tin, lanthanide, and other transition metal catalysts, and special attention is given to the reaction mechanism and kinetics for preparing ethylene glycol from cellulose, and the economic advantages of biomass-to-ethylene glycol are briefly introduced. The insights given in this review will facilitate further development of efficient catalysts, for addressing the global energy crisis and climate change related to the use of fossil fuels.

Key words: Ethylene glycol, Cellulose, Catalyst, Retro-aldol condensation, Hydrolysis, Kinetics