Significant promotion of MgOy in bifunctional Pt-WOx-MgOy catalysts for the chemoselective conversion of glucose to lower polyols

A novel catalyst prepared by a facile ‘one-pot’ solvothermal method was developed for the efficient production of lower polyols from glucose solution. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the yield of diols was up to 50.7%, outperforming the recent works reported in the literature (<48%). Deeper investigation results revealed that the modification of MgO y on Pt-WO x could tune the surface acid-base properties, thereby promoting the yield of lower polyols. Combining the experimental and characterization results, a possible reaction mechanism during the conversion of glucose to lower polyols over Pt-WO x -MgO y was proposed.