Hydrogenolysis of Carbohydrates from Starch Wastewater with Ru-Ni Catalyst in a Solar Energy-Powered Reactor

The hydrogenation processing of carbohydrates from wastewaters of processed starch sources was evaluated in the presence of a formulated Ni- Ru/activated carbon catalyst in a slurry reactor under H2 pressure and heat fed by a solar thermal system. Heat transfer to the reactor via thermal fluid flowing through a thermal solar system allowed operations at temperatures of 453 K, 473 K and 493 K, where saccharide hydrogenolysis predominated. The experimental data were interpreted by the reaction mechanism involving the solid phases of the catalyst, including activated carbon, Ni and Ru. Fast hydrolysis and hydrogenation were considered and the hydrogenolysis on C-C and C-O bonds of starch-derived oligosaccharides exerted control. The effects compatible with the kinetic-operational development allowed estimation of the specific reaction rates of the reaction steps involving the production of polyols and glycol.