Fructose and invert sugar (fructose/glucose mixture) were hydrogenated over bimetallic amorphous nano-catalysts of CoNiB and polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized CoNiB (PVP-CoNiB), prepared by chemical reduction, to yield mannitol and sorbitol. The parameters of catalysts and the reaction conditions were discussed. CoNiB and PVP-CoNiB catalysts were much more active than NiB, CoB and Raney nickel in the hydrogenations of fructose and invert sugar. The selectivity of mannitol changed slightly even as the catalysts and the reaction conditions were altered. The highly active catalysts of CoNiB and PVP-CoNiB are promising to replace Raney nickel in the hydrogenations of fructose and invert sugar, although the selectivity of mannitol improved slightly. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
