Zeolite Y (HYZ) supported ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles catalysts are prepared by simple impregnation method and characterized by using different techniques such as TEM, TEM-EDX, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, surface area analysis and CO chemisorption. HYZ (different ratio of Si/Al) supported ruthenium catalysts are evaluated in hydrogenation of xylose to xylitol under green aqueous phase system. The reaction conditions are optimized by varying the stirring rate, ruthenium percent loading, xylose concentration, hydrogen partial pressure, reaction temperature and amount of catalyst to achieve the maximum conversion of xylose and selectivity to hydrogenated product xylitol. The activity of Ru/HYZ is also compared with that of conventional Ru/C catalyst at optimum reaction condition (120 degrees C and 5.5 MPa pressure of H-2 in 2 h). The reusability test of catalyst is carried out four times by recovering the catalyst from product solution. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.