Carbon supported Ru-Ni bimetallic catalysts for the enhanced one-pot conversion of cellulose to sorbitol

[Display omitted] •Ru-based catalysts showed to be highly efficient for the conversion of cellulose.•A synergic effect between Ru and Ni was observed.•STEM-XEDS reveals a contact at nano-level between Ru and Ni particles.•Mix-milling of cellulose and Ru-Ni catalysts greatly increased the activity. Ru and Ni mono- and bimetallic catalysts were prepared by impregnation of two different supports (activated carbon and carbon nanotubes) and were characterized by TPR, TEM and N2 adsorption at −196°C. The prepared Ru mono- and bimetallic catalysts were highly efficient for the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose to sorbitol. Regardless of the support used, when nickel was incorporated into the supported ruthenium catalyst a promoting effect was observed, with an increase in both conversion and selectivity to sorbitol, which was explained by the interaction between both metals. Yields of sorbitol around 50–60% were achieved after 5h of reaction when using Ru-Ni/AC and Ru-Ni/CNT as catalysts. Moreover, a yield of sorbitol over 70% could be reached in just 1h of reaction if the Ru-Ni catalysts were ball-milled together with cellulose.