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Lulu Yan

Bio: Lulu Yan is an academic researcher from Nankai University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Catalysis & Cellulose. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 9 publications receiving 455 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a cellulose-derived carbonaceous solid acid catalyst that has superparamagnetism was synthesized by incomplete hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose followed by Fe3O4 grafting and SO3H group functionalization.

132 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a black liquor-derived porous carbon (N-BLPC) was synthesized using KOH as both lignin extraction solvent and chemical activation agent, which can increase the surface area (2646m 2 ǫg −1 ), pore volume (1.285cm 3 Â g −1 ) and promote the formation of nitrogen covalent bonds in the carbon materials.

130 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
Feng Shen1, Richard L. Smith2, Luyang Li1, Lulu Yan1, Xinhua Qi1 
TL;DR: In this article, a cellulase-mimetic solid acid catalyst was used to produce 51.5% levulinic acid in 12 h without the use of sulfuric acid and showed that the cellulose binding sites (−Cl) and catalytic sites (−SO3H) are key to the activity of the catalyst.
Abstract: Microcrystalline cellulose could be effectively converted into levulinic acid in pure water at 180 °C in 12 h without additives in a maximum yield of 51.5% with a cellulase-mimetic solid acid catalyst prepared without the use of sulfuric acid. Ball-milling pretreatment of cellulose improved levulinic acid yields by only a few percent, showing that the cellulose binding sites (−Cl) and catalytic sites (−SO3H) of the catalyst are key to the activity of the catalyst. The spent catalyst could be regenerated with H2O2 solution after recycling for 5 times to maintain more than 95% of its catalytic activity. Glucose used as starting material under the same reaction conditions and with the same cellulase-mimetic solid acid gave a yield of 61.5% levulinic acid. The conversion route for carbohydrates to levulinic acid in pure water with the biomimetic catalyst prepared with a H2SO4-free method provides an environmentally friendly method for producing biobased-platform chemicals from renewable resources.

91 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, carbonaceous materials (CM-SO 3 H, CM-COOH) were prepared and functionalized in a single step with SO 3 H or COOH groups by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in the presence of sulfosalicylic acid or acrylic acid as co-monomer.

64 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
Lulu Yan1, Nian Liu1, Yu Wang1, Hiroshi Machida1, Xinhua Qi1 
TL;DR: The synthesized catalyst and the developed process of using corn stalk-derived carbon catalyst for corn stalk conversion provide a green and efficient strategy for crude biomass utilization.

56 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent advances and developments in catalytic transformations of the carbohydrate content of lignocellulosic biomass to IPCs (i.e., ethanol, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, isoprene, succinic and levulinic acids, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) are overviewed.
Abstract: The replacement of fossil resources that currently provide more than 90% of our energy needs and feedstocks of the chemical industry in combination with reduced emission of carbon dioxide is one of the most pressing challenges of mankind. Biomass as a globally available resource has been proposed as an alternative feedstock for production of basic building blocks, which could partially or even fully replace the currently utilized fossil-based ones in well-established chemical processes. The destruction of lignocellulosic feed followed by oxygen removal from its cellulose and hemicellulose content by catalytic processes results in the formation of initial platform chemicals (IPCs). However, their sustainable production strongly depends on the availability of resources, their efficient or even industrially viable conversion processes, and replenishment time of feedstocks. Herein, we overview recent advances and developments in catalytic transformations of the carbohydrate content of lignocellulosic biomass ...

784 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review focuses on the catalytic chemical conversion of lignocellulose and its primary ingredients into value-added chemicals and fuel products using ILs as the reaction media.
Abstract: Innovative valorization of naturally abundant and renewable lignocellulosic biomass is of great importance in the pursuit of a sustainable future and biobased economy. Ionic liquids (ILs) as an important kind of green solvents and functional fluids have attracted significant attention for the catalytic transformation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into a diverse range of products. Taking advantage of some unique properties of ILs with different functions, the catalytic transformation processes can be carried out more efficiently and potentially with lower environmental impacts. Also, a new product portfolio may be derived from catalytic systems with ILs as media. This review focuses on the catalytic chemical conversion of lignocellulose and its primary ingredients (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) into value-added chemicals and fuel products using ILs as the reaction media. An outlook is provided at the end of this review to highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with this interes...

627 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of the most significant advances in the development of functionalised heterogeneous catalysts for efficient biomass upgrading by critically discussing the role of consequent properties on cascade reactions as well as on other vital processes within the bio-refinery.
Abstract: Efficient transformation of biomass to value-added chemicals and high-energy density fuels is pivotal for a more sustainable economy and carbon-neutral society. In this framework, developing potential cascade chemical processes using functionalised heterogeneous catalysts is essential because of their versatile roles towards viable biomass valorisation. Advances in materials science and catalysis have provided several innovative strategies for the design of new appealing catalytic materials with well-defined structures and special characteristics. Promising catalytic materials that have paved the way for exciting scientific breakthroughs in biomass upgrading are carbon materials, metal–organic frameworks, solid phase ionic liquids, and magnetic iron oxides. These fascinating catalysts offer unique possibilities to accommodate adequate amounts of acid–base and redox functional species, hence enabling various biomass conversion reactions in a one-pot way. This review therefore aims to provide a comprehensive account of the most significant advances in the development of functionalised heterogeneous catalysts for efficient biomass upgrading. In addition, this review highlights important progress ensued in tailoring the immobilisation of desirable functional groups on particular sites of the above-listed materials, while critically discussing the role of consequent properties on cascade reactions as well as on other vital processes within the bio-refinery. Current challenges and future opportunities towards a rational design of novel functionalised heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable biomass valorisation are also emphasized.

429 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the most recent studies on acid-catalyzed hydrolysis can be found in this paper, where the main byproducts, including levulinic acid (LA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), are discussed.
Abstract: Catalytic conversion of renewable biomass to “green” chemicals and fuel additives has been extensively investigated in the past few decades. Interests on two top platform intermediates for biofuel production, i.e. levulinic acid (LA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), have increased significantly. These two chemicals are generally produced from biomass through acid hydrolysis. This review summarizes the discoveries of the most recent studies on acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, including (i) biomass pretreatment, (ii) glucose production from cellulose hydrolysis, (iii) fructose formation from glucose isomerization, (iv) HMF formation from glucose/fructose dehydration and (v) LA production from HMF rehydration. Humins, the main byproducts, are also discussed in the aspect of their influence on the hydrolysis process, structure, formation mechanism, and applications.

361 citations