Ruthenium-carbon composite (Ru-XC) catalysts prepared by a single-step surfactant-templating method were pre-graphitized at different temperature (X = 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 degrees C), and they were applied to the liquid-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid to tetrahydrofuran (THF). The effect of pre-graphitization temperature on the catalytic performance of Ru-XC catalysts (X = 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 degrees C) was investigated. It was observed that Ru-XC composite catalysts showed different textural properties depending on pre-graphitization temperature. In the liquid-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid to tetrahydrofuran (THF), conversion of succinic acid and yield for THF showed volcano-shaped trends with respect to pre-graphitization temperature. In other words, an optimal pre-graphitization temperature was required to achieve maximum catalytic performance of Ru-XC catalysts. Yield for THF in the hydrogenation of succinic acid increased with decreasing ruthenium particle size of Ru-XC catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, Ru-300C, which had the smallest ruthenium particle size, showed the highest yield for THF. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.