# Direct Oxidation of Glucose to Glucaric Acid Using Bimetallic AuPt/ZrO2 Nanocatalysts

## TL;DR

Scientists used a special catalyst to convert glucose directly into glucaric acid, a useful chemical, with high efficiency.

## Contribution

A bimetallic AuPt/ZrO2 nanocatalyst enables direct glucose-to-glucaric acid conversion with up to 44% selectivity.

## Key findings

- Bimetallic AuPt nanocatalysts favor glucaric acid production over gluconic acid.
- Au67%Pt33%@ZrO2 achieved 44% selectivity for glucaric acid.
- Theoretical calculations and imaging confirmed alloy formation in the catalyst.

## Abstract

Transforming biobased resources, such as glucose, into
value-added
chemicals is a crucial step in utilizing biomass. Herein, we report
on the one-pot conversion of glucose to glucaric acid, by selectively
steering the oxidation of glucose from the typical production of gluconic
acid toward the production of glucaric acid, using monometallic Au
and Pt and bimetallic AuPt nanocatalysts supported on zirconia. While
the monometallic catalysts promote the production of gluconic acid,
bimetallic catalysts favor the direct formation of glucaric acid from
glucose, with efficacy depending on the Au/Pt ratio, reaching up to
44% selectivity with the Au67%Pt33%@ZrO2 catalyst. Theoretical calculations confirm the formation
of alloys, as experimentally evidenced by EDX-mapping and HR-TEM imaging.