Glucose oxidation 101
In a collaboration between researchers of the D13 department and colleagues from the Czech Academy of Sciences, interesting findings have been made in the field of chemical reaction engineering. The joint research, recently published in the journal Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, focuses on the intricacies of glucose oxidation and unravels key mechanisms with implications for environmental sustainability and biomedical applications. This joint work not only represents an advance in the understanding of catalytic processes, but is also an example of the synergy achieved when top researchers join forces across international boundaries to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge in the search for innovative solutions.
In a comprehensive approach encompassing synthesis and characterisation, our research team investigated Au/ZrO2, AuCu/ZrO2 and AuPt/ZrO2 catalysts using advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and oxygen pulse chemisorption (OPS). The detailed analysis, combined with density functional theory (DFT) studies, revealed the formation of alloys in bimetallic catalysts that exhibit different properties compared to their monometallic counterparts in the context of the specific reaction under investigation. Batch reactions were systematically carried out varying temperature and oxygen pressure, leading to the development of a predictive microkinetic model. In particular, the AuPt/ZrO2 catalyst showed the highest selectivity, yielding an impressive 32 % glucaric acid at 100 °C and 30 bar O2. These results not only provide valuable insights for the development of efficient catalysts, but also highlight key considerations and potential bottlenecks in the oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid and provide a roadmap for future advances in this important area of chemical reaction engineering.
To summarize, the importance of glucaric acid lies in its potential biomedical applications, its role in promoting environmentally sustainable practices, its status as a biorenewable chemical and its applications in various industries. This study, which includes synthesis, characterisation, DFT and modelling, lays a foundation for future research on biomass valorisation and the circular economy. Prospects on the horizon include the transition to continuous operation in a trickle bed reactor, which promises sustainable and efficient glucose oxidation.
Link to the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926337323010986
More information: janvit.terzan(at)ki.si