Metal particle growth during glucose hydrogenation over Ru/SiO2 evaluated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy.

Biorenewable resources such as carbohydrates are considered alternative feedstocks for oxygenated chemicals. This work investigates the stability of silica-supported Ru catalysts in the aqueous phase conversion of glucose to sorbitol. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ru K edge revealed that air-exposed silica-supported Ru was in an oxidized state but was subsequently reduced in aqueous solutions saturated with 40 bar H(2) at 373 K.