| abstract |
Single-step process for the conversion of polysaccharides to polyhydric alcohols by hydrogenation at high pressure and temperature in the presence of a catalyst consisting of (i) a supported metal selected from ruthenium, copper, nickel, cobalt and their mixtures, said metal being highly dispersed on the support so as to be capable of adsorbing more than 0.58 molecules of CO per atom of metal, and (ii) a solid having acidic functions, which may or may not be identical to the support, said solid having sufficient acid functions so that the rate constant of hydrolysis of sucrose on the catalyst is greater than 70% of the rate constant of hydrogenation of glucose on the catalyst. The process gives substantially pure polyhydric alcohols in a single step. |