Do not forget the classical catalyst poisons: The case of biomass to glycols <i>via</i> catalytic hydrogenolysis

The conversion of herbaceous biomass to glycols via tungstate catalyzed hydrogenolysis is challenging owing its high content extractives, inorganics and S/N, compared with woody biomass. We tested the performance hay in batch autoclave experiments presence soluble sodium polytungstate Raney Ni at 245°C, both excess catalyst as well under catalyst-starving conditions. By this method, we found that additional poisons, or least their much higher concentrations, are present feedstock It turns out N- particular S-containing components root cause for deactivation hydrogenation catalyst. From experimental data have derived criteria N S should be targeted terms consumption operation an industrially relevant window. These urge development effective pretreatments S/N removal employment S/N-tolerant catalysts field catalytic conversion. © 2022 Society Chemical Industry John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.