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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
10:39
Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
Published on: August 23, 2018
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Oxalic Acid Hydrogenation to Glycolic Acid: Toward Stable and Selective Ruthenium Catalysts
Eric Schuler1, Lars Grooten1, Mohanreddy Kasireddy2
1Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
ACS Omega
|June 9, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed efficient ruthenium-tin catalysts for converting oxalic acid to glycolic acid, a key step towards sustainable polymers and a circular economy. This process utilizes CO2 and biomass, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Green Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Transitioning to a circular economy is crucial for mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss.
- Replacing fossil-based polymers with sustainable alternatives derived from CO2 or biomass is essential.
- Glycolic acid, a valuable monomer for polyesters, can be produced from oxalic acid via selective hydrogenation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop highly selective and stable catalysts for the direct hydrogenation of oxalic acid to glycolic acid.
- To optimize catalyst composition, including ruthenium-tin ratios and supports, for enhanced performance.
- To investigate catalyst deactivation mechanisms and improve long-term stability.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic (Ru-Sn) and trimetallic (Ru-Sn-Pt) catalysts.
- Batch and flow reactor studies for oxalic acid hydrogenation under varying conditions (pressure, temperature).
- Analysis of reaction products (glycolic acid, acetic acid) and catalyst stability in acidic media.
Main Results:
- Achieved 95% glycolic acid yield in batch reactors and 100% yield in flow reactors.
- Maintained high selectivity (>90%) for glycolic acid and low byproduct formation (<5% acetic acid).
- Identified catalyst deactivation linked to insufficient Ru/Sn metal reduction; chloride presence negatively impacts stability.
- Addition of platinum significantly enhanced catalyst stability, with only 9% activity loss over multiple uses.
Conclusions:
- Developed highly efficient and stable Ru-Sn-based catalysts for direct oxalic acid to glycolic acid conversion.
- Demonstrated the potential for utilizing CO2 and biomass-derived oxalic acid as monomers for sustainable polyesters.
- The optimized catalytic system offers a viable pathway towards a circular economy for plastics and chemicals.
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