Photocatalytic Conversion of Xylose to Xylitol over Copper Doped Zinc Oxide Catalyst.

In the present investigation, photocatalytic conversion of xylose by Copper (Cu) doped Zinc oxide (ZnO) was investigated
under Ultraviolet Light emitting diode (UVA-LED) illumination. Photocatalysts were synthesized successfully by chemical
precipitation method. The synergistic efect of 5 wt% Cu doped ZnO and addition of glycerol as oxygen scavenger improved
conversion. The results from our study showed that %conversion of xylose, glycerol are 33.72%, 33.61% respectively and %
product yield of 88.79% of Dihydroxyacetone(DHA), 19.87% of xylitol and 13.29% of erythritol were achieved when 1.66 g/L
of catalyst were used in ambient conditions under 7 h of UVA-LED illumination. The varied temperature to 50±2 °C had
decreased efect on the product yield when compared to that of the reaction carried out at 30±2 °C. High Resolution Mass
spectrometry results confrmed the presence of the products xylitol, erythritol and DHA formed during the course of the
photocatalytic reaction.