Hydrogenation of Glucose to Sorbitol by Using Nickel Hydroxyapatite Catalyst

A series of nickel hydroxyapatite catalysts were synthesized by the co‐precipitation method followed by calcination and reduction. These catalysts were employed for the aqueous phase hydrogenation of glucose to sorbitol. The Ni‐HAP catalyst with comparatively high surface area and acid‐base strength gave high sorbitol selectivity in 1 h. Ni‐HAP‐4 catalyst with moderate Ni (3.5 wt.%) content having smaller and highly dispersed nickel particles gives an excellent yield of sorbitol, 97% in 1h. The Ni‐HAP‐4 catalyst works well with other polar protic solvents. Different characterization techniques like XRD, TEM, SEM‐EDS, BET, NH3‐TPD, and CO2‐TPD were employed to analyze the Ni‐HAP‐4 catalyst.