Oil formation from glucose with formic acid and cobalt catalyst in hot-compressed water.

Liquefaction of glucose into oil was examined in hot-compressed water at 300 degrees C and 30 or 60 min in a tumbling batch reactor. The effects of alkali (KHCO(3)), a hydrogenating agent (HCO(2)H), and a cobalt catalyst (Co(3)O(4)) were studied. Also the combinations of these additives were investigated. HCO(2)H and KHCO(3) showed a positive effect on oil formation. Co(3)O(4) was found to be an advantageous additive as well, increasing the oil formation from glucose, but the stability of this catalyst under reaction conditions was quite low.