Hydrocracking of sugars using a molybdenum cocatalyst capable of selective glycol generation

摘要

A hydrocracking process is disclosed for directly converting a sugar feed consisting of a high fructose feedstock, a high sucrose feedstock, or a combination thereof into a mixed lower polyol product comprising both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The process provides propylene glycol selectivity greater than ethylene glycol selectivity such that propylene glycol is present to a higher degree than ethylene glycol in the mixed lower polyol product. A sugar feed and a source of hydrogen are fed to a reaction vessel and reacted in the presence of a hydrocracking catalyst comprising molybdenum (Mo) and ruthenium (Ru).