The structure sensitivity was studied in the hydrogenation of glucose to sorbitol over supported ruthenium catalysts in a semi-batch reactor. Ruthenium on carbon supports with different ruthenium particle sizes was prepared and evaluated in the hydrogenation experiments. The highest turnover frequency was obtained with a catalyst bearing average ruthenium particle size of ca. 3 nm. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.