Abstract The performances of platinum supported on tungstated alumina (Pt/AlW) in the hydrothermal conversion of cellulose at 190 C under H 2 pressure were evaluated and compared to that of Pt-free tungstated alumina (AlW). We show that the presence of Pt significantly increased the extent of conversion and led to a different product distribution with the formation of acetol and propylene glycol as the main products and a global yield of up ...