Carbon nanofiber/graphite-felt composite supported Ru catalysts for hydrogenolysis of sorbitol

Carbon nanofiber/graphite-felt (CNF/GF) composite was used to support ruthenium (3.0 wt.%) for sorbitol hydrogenolysis. The CNF/GF composite was synthesized by in situ growing a CNF layer on graphite felt using Ni as catalyst and ethane as carbon source, and Ru was deposited by incipient wetness impregnation. The composite and catalyst were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The monolithic Ru catalyst was then used as stirring blades in an autoclave, in which sorbitol hydrogenolysis was carried out. The results showed that, compared with the powder Ru/CNF catalyst, the structured Ru catalyst had a lower activity but a much higher total selectivity, from 57.0% to 79.1%, to ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol.