Ethylene glycol production from glucose over W‐Ru catalysts: Maximizing yield by kinetic modeling and simulation

The kinetics of glucose conversion to ethylene glycol (EG) in the presence of ammonium paratungstate and Ru/AC catalysts was studied to model and predict the reaction performance under a range of conditions. A mathematical model was established through the rational simplification of the reaction network on the basis of a continuous stirred‐tank model. The kinetic data of six major reactions in the network were experimentally measured, and the analytical expressions of overall reaction kinetics were obtained by introducing the kinetic data to the model. Yields of EG, hexitols and gas were described as functions of the reaction temperature, the concentration of glucose in the feedstock and the feeding rate. The simulation results matched the experimental data of glucose conversion, demonstrating the validity of the model and method for studying the overall kinetics of glucose conversion to EG over W‐Ru catalysts. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 63: 2072–2080, 2017