Conversion of Biomass into Chemicals over Metal Catalysts

Catalysis by Supported Gold Nanoparticles: Beyond Aerobic Oxidative Processes

Selective oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes over supported metal nanoparticles

the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21073208);the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nano-Gold Catalysis in Fine Chemical Synthesis

Increasing demand for sustainable chemicals and fuels has pushed academia and industry to search for alternative feedstocks replacing crude oil in traditional refineries. As a result, an immense academic attention has focused on the valorisation of biomass (components) and derived intermediates to generate valuable platform chemicals and fuels. Zeolite catalysis plays a distinct role in many of these biomass conversion routes. This contribution emphasizes the progress and potential in zeolite catalysed biomass conversions and relates these to concepts established in existing petrochemical processes. The application of zeolites, equipped with a variety of active sites, in Bronsted acid, Lewis acid, or multifunctional catalysed reactions is discussed and generalised to provide a comprehensive overview. In addition, the feedstock shift from crude oil to biomass involves new challenges in developing fields, like mesoporosity and pore interconnectivity of zeolites and stability of zeolites in liquid phase. Finally, the future challenges and perspectives of zeolites in the processing of biomass conversion are discussed.

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Potential and challenges of zeolite chemistry in the catalytic conversion of biomass

Acid hydrolysis of xylan

A continuous process for glyoxal valorisation using tailored Lewis-acid zeolite catalysts

We disclose in this study a Ni6AlO x catalyst prepared by coprecipitation for the reductive amination of biomass-derived aldehydes and ketones in aqueous ammonia under mild reaction conditions. The catalyst exhibited 99% yield toward 5-aminomethyl-2-furylmethanol in the reaction of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural with ammonia at 100 °C for 6 h under 1 bar H2. The catalyst was further extended to the reductive amination of a library of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and ketones with a yield in the range 81-90% at optimized reaction conditions. Besides, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural could react with a library of primary and secondary amines with yields in the range 76-88%. The catalyst could be easily recycled and reused without apparent loss of activity in four consecutive runs.

Reductive Amination of Furanic Aldehydes in Aqueous Solution over Versatile Ni y AlO x Catalysts.

The application of solid acid catalysts for the production of monomers from hemicelluloses can be one of the key steps in developing the concept of an integrated forest biorefinery. Arabinogalactans (AG) are hemicelluloses which can be extracted on an industrial scale from larch wood species and has a great potential as a sustainable feedstock for bio-based products. Hydrolysis of AG to monomers over acidic heterogeneous catalysts (Smopex-101 and Amberlyst 15) was successfully demonstrated for the first time to selectively produce arabinose as the primary product, followed by the release of galactose without further degradation of the monomers. Selective hydrolysis of arabinogalactan into arabinose and galactose over heterogeneous catalysts

Bright T. Kusema

Papers

Acid hydrolysis of xylan

A continuous process for glyoxal valorisation using tailored Lewis-acid zeolite catalysts

Reductive Amination of Furanic Aldehydes in Aqueous Solution over Versatile Ni y AlO x Catalysts.

Selective Hydrolysis of Arabinogalactan into Arabinose and Galactose Over Heterogeneous Catalysts

Catalytic oxidation of rare sugars over gold catalysts