Simultaneous production of xylonic acid and xylitol from xylose via atmospheric-pressure catalysis
Operates at room temperature without external hydrogen or oxygen, replacing high-temperature, high-pressure reactions and complex downstream separation steps
image: Productivity Comparison Graph between Conventional Catalysts and the Newly Developed Catalyst
Credit: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology(KRICT)
A research team in South Korea has developed a cutting-edge catalytic and separation process that enables the simultaneous production of xylonic acid and xylitol from xylose under ambient conditions, without the need for external hydrogen or oxygen supply.
Drs. Young Kyu Hwang, Jihoon Kim, and Kyung-Ryul Oh at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) reported a novel one-pot catalytic reaction using platinum (Pt)-based transfer hydrogenation to convert xylose—a sugar commonly derived from agricultural waste such as corn cobs and birch bark—into two value-added chemicals: xylonic acid (a pharmaceutical precursor) and xylitol (a bioplastic and sweetener feedstock). The reaction proceeds efficiently at room temperature and ambient pressure, without requiring additional gases, and demonstrates a hydrogen transfer efficiency of 100%.
In March, the team introduced a platinum catalyst dispersed on a zirconia (ZrO₂) support, exhibiting superior recyclability (over 80% conversion after 5 cycles) compared to conventional carbon-based catalysts. In April, they further unveiled a sustainable downstream process using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED), which enabled the single-step separation of the reaction mixture into xylonic acid, xylitol, and base—achieving energy savings of up to 46.4%.
The integrated system achieved a production rate of 37.5 g/L/h for both xylonic acid and xylitol—1.5 to 6 times greater than existing thermocatalytic, photocatalytic, or biocatalytic methods.
Dr. Hwang stated, “Our catalyst and separation platform offers a new paradigm for carbon-neutral bioprocessing of non-food biomass and even plastic waste.”
This research was was published in March and April 2025 as cover articles in ChemSusChem and ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. The lead author, Ali Awad (UST-KRICT), was selected for a prestigious Student Award at EUBCE 2025 in Spain, out of over 900 submitted abstracts.
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KRICT is a non-profit research institute funded by the Korean government. Since its foundation in 1976, KRICT has played a leading role in advancing national chemical technologies in the fields of chemistry, material science, environmental science, and chemical engineering. Now, KRICT is moving forward to become a globally leading research institute tackling the most challenging issues in the field of Chemistry and Engineering and will continue to fulfill its role in developing chemical technologies that benefit the entire world and contribute to maintaining a healthy planet. More detailed information on KRICT can be found at https://www.krict.re.kr/eng/
The study was was supported by KRICT's institutional program and the Ministry of Science and ICT's Petroleum Substitution Development Project.