Polyols from Biomass (IMAGE) Wiley Caption The expense of using precious-metal catalysts is avoided in the high-yielding conversion of cellulose to ethylene glycol (see picture; AC=activated carbon). This process occurs in up to 29 percent yield over a tungsten carbide catalyst, and in up to 61 percent yield when the catalyst is promoted with a small amount of nickel. An attractive feature of this reaction is the low yields of other polyols with respect to ethylene glycol. Credit (C) Wiley-VCH 2008 Usage Restrictions Permission to use with appropriate credit and link to http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200803233 License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.