MOFs-derived hierarchical porous carbon confining the monodisperse Ni and defective WOx for efficient and stable hydrogenolysis of cellulose to ethylene glycol

The one-pot catalytic conversion of cellulose into ethylene glycol (EG) is an attractive way of biomass utilization. However, low-cost, efficient, and stable catalysts are the premise and research challenges of industrial application. Herein, the magnetic recyclable W–Ni@C catalyst was synthesized by in-situ pyrolysis of Ni-MOFs impregnated with ammonium metatungstate. Compared with the Ni-W bimetallic catalysts prepared by the impregnation method and the sol–gel method, the W–Ni@C catalyst for cellulose hydrogenolysis reaction can achieve a higher ethylene glycol yield (67.1% vs 43.3% and 42.6%) and 100% of cellulose conversion rate. The uniformly dispersed Ni nanoparticles and abundant defective WO x were formed in a reductive atmosphere generated in pyrolysis of Ni-MOFs, which was indispensable for the hydrogenolysis of cellulose into EG. Besides, the hierarchical porous carbon derived from organic ligands in Ni-MOFs reduces the mass transfer resistance while confining Ni nanoparticles and WO x to prevent their leaching, effectively enhancing the stability of the W–Ni@C catalyst. Therefore, the remarkable catalytic performance, the simple and effective recovery method as well as satisfying stability would make W–Ni@C become a promising catalyst for the conversion of cellulose to EG. Graphical abstract