Glucaric acid, a promising bio-based chemical for the production of adipic acid, is produced on a commercial Pt/C catalyst via aerobic oxidation of glucose in water. Facile oxidation of gluconic acid, an intermediate oxidation product of glucose, under optimal conditions of an initial pH of 7.2, 80 °C, 13.8 bar O2 and a glucose/Pt molar ratio of 54, enabled a maximum glucaric acid yield of 74%, the highest yield reported to date. It is found that in an acidic solution, gluconic acid is the major product while in a highly basic solution, selectivity to glucaric acid is poor due to its C–C bond cleavage to low carbon chain carboxylic acids. High temperatures and high Pt loadings result in lower selectivity to glucaric acid. Recyclability and characterization studies reveal that the catalyst is stable after five cycles with no sign of Pt leaching into the solution.
