Unveiling superior catalytic performance of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) in the isomerization of glucose to fructose
Chemical catalysts have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional enzymes for the glucose isomerization process, offering improved yield, a wider operating temperature range, longer catalyst lifetimes, and better resistance to impurities. In this study, ZIF-8, a common metal-organic framewor...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Chemical Engineering Journal Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000985 |
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| Summary: | Chemical catalysts have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional enzymes for the glucose isomerization process, offering improved yield, a wider operating temperature range, longer catalyst lifetimes, and better resistance to impurities. In this study, ZIF-8, a common metal-organic framework, was utilized as a solid Lewis acid catalyst for the isomerization of glucose to fructose in aqueous conditions. Remarkably, ZIF-8 exhibited excellent catalytic performance, achieving approximately 40 % fructose yield and over 50 % glucose conversion at 100 °C, nearly reaching thermodynamic equilibrium at 42 % w/w fructose. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis of the reversible isomerization reaction at 100 °C revealed that ZIF-8 produced the forward rate constant (k1f) comparable to the reverse rate constant (k1r), resulting in a k1f/k1r ratio that is close to the thermodynamic equilibrium for the isomerization of glucose to fructose. The underlying mechanism involves open metal sites on ZIFs, which, along with associated hydroxyl groups, facilitate the formation of a five-membered cyclic transition state and promote intramolecular hydride transfer. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations indicate that ZIF-8 has a lower energy barrier at the transition state compared to its isostructural counterpart, ZIF-67. Furthermore, the reusability assessment of the ZIF-8 catalyst confirmed its sustained activity and stability under aqueous conditions, highlighting its potential for practical applications in glucose isomerization. |
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| ISSN: | 2666-8211 |