Glucose hydrogenation on Co–B amorphous alloy catalysts and the promoting effect of metal additives

Two kinds of ultrafine Co–B amorphous alloy catalysts, denoted as P‐1 Co–B and P‐2W Co–B, were prepared by chemical reduction with borohydride in aqueous or 50% (v/v) ethanol/water solution, respectively. In comparison with the corresponding Co‐based crystalline catalysts and Ni‐based catalysts, these catalysts exhibited higher activity during the liquid phase glucose hydrogenation, possibly due to the unique amorphous characteristics and the lower d‐band electron density, which was favorable for hydrogen dissociative chemisorption. Addition of Cr‐, Mo‐ or W‐promoters could further increase the conversion of Co–B amorphous catalyst, which was mainly attributed to the dispersion effect of promoters and the adsorption and polarization of carbonyl groups by these promoters. The different effects of W‐ from Cr‐ and Mo‐promoters on the conversion were observed and are discussed.