Tao Zhang, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, China, and colleagues have prepared highly dispersed Ni-promoted W₂C catalysts by a post-impregnation method. The catalyst found to be very active and selective for cellulose conversion into ethylene glycol (EG).

Relative to the co-impregnation method, catalysts prepared by this post-impregnation exhibited considerably better dispersion of the active components. Because of this improved dispersion, the catalysts prepared by post-impregnation were very active and selective in the conversion of cellulose into EG. The EG yield increased by 12 % relative to the co-impregnation method.

Recycling experiments showed that the catalyst exhibited reasonable reusability.

• Nickel-Promoted Tungsten Carbide Catalysts for Cellulose Conversion: Effect of Preparation Methods,
  Na Ji, Mingyuan Zheng, Aiqin Wang, Tao Zhang, Jingguang G. Chen,
  ChemSusChem 2012.
  DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201100575