Hydrogenation of D-fructose over activated charcoal supported platinum catalyst

Hydrogenation of D-fructose in the presence of activated charcoal supported platinum as a catalyst was employed for the preparation of D-mannitol. The effects of the reaction time (10-120 min), reaction temperature (283-333 K), and catalyst to D-fructose ratio (1-6%) on the yield of D-mannitol were studied. 45% D-mannitol yield, 41% D-sorbitol yield, and 95% D-fructose conversion were obtained at the conditions of 120 min reaction time, 333 K reaction temperature and 6% catalyst to D-fructose ratio. The reaction kinetic was also studied and the data were modeled by zero-, first- and second-order reaction equations. In the operating regimes studied, the results show that the hydrogenation reaction is of a first order with respect to D-fructose concentration. Also the activation energy of the reaction was determined, and found to be 11 kJ/gmole. (C) 2010 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.