Catalytic hydrogenolysis of fructose to acetol over Ni/CeO2 catalysts

Acetol is the important platform molecule, which showed diversified applications in organic synthesis, pharmaceutic, food and polymer industrials. The production of acetol from selective fructose hydrogenolysis is of scientific and practical interests. However, by catalysis, precisely controlling the target C-C and C-O bonds splitting is an open challenge, resulting in the low target product yields. Herein, by regulating the metal-support-interactions, which enhanced electron transfer capacity and improved acetol production from fructose hydrogenolysis through controlling the important intermediate species, obtaining the highest 53.6 % yield and an average conversion rate of 1.24 × 10 −5 mol/(g cat .s) within short time of 10 min. The interfacial charge transfer in the surface structure of the catalyst along with the Ni metal content was revealed by various characterizations. This research provides a preliminary method for electron transfer regulation of Ni/CeO 2 catalysts in acetol production from fructose hydrogenolysis, showing practical application potentials due to the simple preparation of the catalyst that possibly contribute to the reactions on a large scale. • Ni/CeO 2 catalysts were prepared for fructose hydrogenolysis to acetol. • High yield of 53.6 % of acetol was obtained within short time of 10 min. • Pyruvaldehyde is the key intermediate for acetol and lactic acid. • Metal-acid synergy of catalyst is crucial for acetol and lactic acid formation.