Simultaneous hydrolysis and hydrogenation of cellobiose to sorbitol in molten salt hydrate media

The hydrolysis and hydrogenation of cellobiose (4-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose) in ZnCl2_4H2O solvent was studied to optimize the conditions for conversion of lignocellulose (the most abundant renewable resource) into sorbitol (D-glucitol). Water at neutral pH does not allow hydrolysis of cellobiose under the conditions of the experiments (up...