Humin Formation on SBA-15-pr-SO3H Catalysts during the Alcoholysis of Furfuryl Alcohol to Ethyl Levulinate: Effect of Pore Size on Catalyst Stability, Transport, and Adsorption

Herein, the alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol in a series of SBA-15-pr-SO₃H catalysts with different pore sizes is reported. Elemental analysis and NMR relaxation/diffusion methods show that changes in pore size have a significant effect on catalyst activity and durability. In particular, the decrease in catalyst activity after catalyst reuse is mainly due to carbonaceous deposition, whereas leaching of sulfonic acid groups is not significant. This effect is more pronounced in the largest-pore-size catalyst C3, which rapidly deactivates after one reaction cycle, whereas catalysts with a relatively medium and small average pore size (named, respectively, C2 and C1) deactivate after two reaction cycles and to a lesser extent. CHNS elemental analysis showed that C1 and C3 experience a similar amount of carbonaceous deposition, suggesting that the increased reusability of the small-pore-size catalyst can be attributed to the presence of SO₃H groups mostly present on the external surface, as corroborated by results on pore clogging obtained by NMR relaxation measurements. The increased reusability of the C2 catalyst is attributed to a lower amount of humin being formed and, at the same time, reduced pore clogging, which helps to maintain accessible the internal pore space.

Heterogeneous Catalysts for Conversion of Biodiesel-Waste Glycerol into High-Added-Value Chemicals

The valuable products produced from glycerol transformation have become a research route that attracted considerable benefits owing to their huge volumes in recent decades (as a result of biodiesel production as a byproduct) as well as a myriad of chemical and biological techniques for transforming glycerol into high-value compounds, such as fuel additives, biofuels, precursors and other useful chemicals, etc. Biodiesel has presented another challenge in the considerable increase in its byproduct (glycerol). This review provides a recent update on the transformation of glycerol with an exclusive focus on the various catalysts’ performance in designing reaction operation conditions. The different products observed and cataloged in this review involved hydrogen, acetol, acrolein, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol (1,3-propanediol and 1,2-propanediol) from reforming and dehydration and hydrogenolysis reactions of glycerol conversions. The future prospects and critical challenges are finally presented.

Diffusion measurements of hydrocarbons in H-MCM-41 extrudates with pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Mesoporous materials are promising catalysts for production of biofuels. Herein, H-MCM-41 catalysts with different concentrations of the silica Bindzil binder (10–50 wt%) were prepared and characterized using pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR in the powder form and as extrudates. Effective diffusion coefficients (D_e) are measured in all cases. Diffusivities of n-hexadecane were found smaller for extrudates as compared to the powder catalysts. The estimates of diffusive tortuosity were also determined. PFG NMR data showed one major component that reveals diffusion in interconnected meso- and micropores and one other minor component (1–2%) that may correspond to more isolated pores or may represent complex effects of restricted diffusion. Therefore, several approaches including initial slope analysis of spin-echo attenuation curves, two-component fitting and Laplace inversion were used to discuss different aspects of diffusional transport in the studied H-MCM-41 materials. Correlations between D_e and the amount of Bindzil, the specific surface area, the micropore volume, the particle size, the total acid sites and the Lewis acid sites are discussed.

Diffusivities of n-hexadecane were measured using pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR for extrudates and powder catalysts comprising H-MCM-41′ and silica Bindzil binder.

Structure and dynamics of a water/methanol mixture confined in zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 from atomistic simulations

A classical atomistic simulation study is reported for the microscopic structure and dynamics of a water/methanol mixture confined in flexible nanoporous zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8. Both the radial density distribution and vivid two-dimensional density profile demonstrate that methanol molecules can roughly be viewed as "embedded" between two layers of water molecules to form a "sandwich" structure. The reason for the formation of such a specific structure is explained based on the hydrogen-bonding state and the strength of various hydrogen bonds. The investigation of guest molecular diffusion shows that the self-diffusion coefficient of confined water is generally one to two orders of magnitude smaller than that of bulk water. In addition, the dependence of the self-diffusion coefficient on loading is non-monotonic: the self-diffusion coefficient firstly shows a significant increase and then decreases at higher loading. Moreover, both the structure and dynamics of the hydrogen bond (HB) network of confined water molecules are investigated in a spatially resolved manner. The results indicate that both the HB structure and dynamics of water molecules near the ZIF-8 surface deviate significantly from those of bulk water. However, while water molecules located at the pore center are relatively similar to bulk water molecules with respect to the HB structure, they exhibit strong slowdown in HB dynamics when compared with bulk water. This simulation study elucidates in detail the structural and dynamical properties of a water/methanol mixture in nanoscopic ZIF-8 confinement, which is expected to provide a deep insight into the role of porous fillers, such as ZIF-8, in improving the performance of the dehydration of alcohols via pervaporation and other related processes.

NMR relaxation time measurements of solvent effects in an organocatalysed asymmetric aldol reaction over silica SBA-15 supported proline

The behaviour of solvents in solid-supported proline organocatalysts is explored using NMR relaxation measurements coupled with reaction screening. Solvents with a lower affinity for the solid surface lead to a higher reactivity.

23Na NMR T1 relaxation measurements as a probe for diffusion and dynamics of sodium ions in salt-glycerol mixtures

Mixtures of sodium salts with oxygen-containing molecules are useful from the perspective of applications such as sodium ion batteries because they fill the gap between deep eutectic solvents and molten salt hydrates. In a previous work, the physical properties (such as diffusion coefficients, conductivity, viscosity, and glass transition temperature) of four salts, namely, Na₂B₄O₇ · 10H₂O, NaOAc · 3H₂O, NaBr, and NaOAc, were measured with glycerol. Pulsed-field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was also used to measure self-diffusion coefficients of ¹H-bearing species. However, the technique was not able to measure diffusion of sodium ions due to the very fast NMR relaxation rate of such species, resulting in loss of the PFG NMR signal. In the current work, this study is expanded using ²³Na T₁ relaxation measurements which, under certain assumptions, can be translated into diffusion coefficients. Analysis of the physical properties is then correlated with self-diffusion coefficient measurements to elucidate information about structure and ionic mobility. It is shown that NaOAc · 3H₂O, NaBr, and NaOAc fit models for ionic conductivity and diffusion, which are consistent with ionic liquids where charge transport is limited by ionic mobility rather than the number of charge carriers. The waters of hydration of NaOAc · 3H₂O do not appear to form a separate phase but are instead strongly coordinated to the cation. In contrast, Na₂B₄O₇ · 10H₂O appears to form a water-rich phase with enhanced sodium mobility.

Pore Blocking by Phenolates as Deactivation Path during the Cracking of 4-Propylphenol over ZSM-5

Cracking of propyl side chains from 4-propylphenol, a model compound for lignin monomers, is studied for a commercial ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst. The decline of 4-propylphenol conversion with time on stream can be delayed by co-feeding water. FTIR spectroscopy shows the formation of chemisorbed phenolates during reactions and significant amounts of phenolics are detected by GC-MS of the extract from the spent catalysts. Thus, chemisorbed phenolates are identified as the main reason for deactivation in the absence of water. Regardless of the amount of co-fed water, substituted monoaromatics and polyaromatic species are formed. Comprehensive characterization of the spent catalysts including Raman and solid-state 27Al NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis points to a combination of deactivation processes. First, phenolates bind to Lewis acid sites within the zeolite framework and hinder diffusion unless they are hydrolyzed by water. In addition, light olefins created during the cracking process react to form a polyaromatic coke that deactivates the catalyst more permanently.

Evolution of a Metal-Organic Framework into a Brønsted Acid Catalyst for Glycerol Dehydration to Acrolein

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as solid acid catalysts provide active sites with definite structures. Here, Zr₆ -based MOF-808 and its derivatives were studied as catalysts for glycerol dehydration, the products of which (acrolein vs. acetol) are very sensitive to the nature of the catalytic acid sites. Evolving MOF-808 into MOF-808-S with a 120 % increase in the number of Brønsted OH^- /H₂ O coordinated to Zr^IV and a vanished Lewis acidity by steam treatment, the post-synthetically modified catalyst presented 100 % conversion of glycerol, 91 % selectivity to acrolein, and 0 % selectivity to acetol within the active window. Real-time analysis of the product composition indicated the in situ MOF structural evolution. Overall, the specific MOF-substrate interaction characterized by the probe reaction provides more understandings on the structural evolution of the MOFs and their impact on the performance as solid acid catalysts.

Continuous Flow Upgrading of Selected C2-C6 Platform Chemicals Derived from Biomass

The ever increasing industrial production of commodity and specialty chemicals inexorably depletes the finite primary fossil resources available on Earth. The forecast of population growth over the next 3 decades is a very strong incentive for the identification of alternative primary resources other than petro-based ones. In contrast with fossil resources, renewable biomass is a virtually inexhaustible reservoir of chemical building blocks. Shifting the current industrial paradigm from almost exclusively petro-based resources to alternative bio-based raw materials requires more than vibrant political messages; it requires a profound revision of the concepts and technologies on which industrial chemical processes rely. Only a small fraction of molecules extracted from biomass bears significant chemical and commercial potentials to be considered as ubiquitous chemical platforms upon which a new, bio-based industry can thrive. Owing to its inherent assets in terms of unique process experience, scalability, and reduced environmental footprint, flow chemistry arguably has a major role to play in this context. This review covers a selection of C₂ to C₆ bio-based chemical platforms with existing commercial markets including polyols (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, 1,4-butanediol, xylitol, and sorbitol), furanoids (furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) and carboxylic acids (lactic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, itaconic acid, and levulinic acid). The aim of this review is to illustrate the various aspects of upgrading bio-based platform molecules toward commodity or specialty chemicals using new process concepts that fall under the umbrella of continuous flow technology and that could change the future perspectives of biorefineries.

VAlPOs as Efficient Catalysts for Glycerol Conversion to Methanol

The catalytic activity of a series of vanadium aluminophosphates catalysts prepared by sol-gel method followed by combustion of the obtained gel was evaluated in glycerol conversion towards methanol. The materials were characterized by several techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. The amount of vanadium incorporated in aluminophosphates framework played an important role in the catalytic activity, while in the products distribution the key role is played by the vanadium oxidation state on the surface. The sample that contains a large amount of V4+ has the highest selectivity towards methanol. On the sample with the lowest vanadium loading the oxidation path to dihydroxyacetone is predominant. The catalyst with higher content of tetrahedral isolated vanadium species, such V5APO, is less active in breaking the C–C bonds in the glycerol molecule than the one containing polymeric species.

Selective Transformations of Triglycerides into Fatty Amines, Amides, and Nitriles by using Heterogeneous Catalysis

The use of triglycerides as an important class of biomass is an effective strategy to realize a more sustainable society. Herein, three heterogeneous catalytic methods are reported for the selective one-pot transformation of triglycerides into value-added chemicals: i) the reductive amination of triglycerides into fatty amines with aqueous NH₃ under H₂ promoted by ZrO₂ -supported Pt clusters; ii) the amidation of triglycerides under gaseous NH₃ catalyzed by high-silica H-beta (Hβ) zeolite at 180 °C; iii) the Hβ-promoted synthesis of nitriles from triglycerides and gaseous NH₃ at 220 °C. These methods are widely applicable to the transformation of various triglycerides (C₄ -C₁₈ skeletons) into the corresponding amines, amides, and nitriles.

New insights for the valorisation of glycerol over MgO catalysts in the gas-phase

Aqueous glycerol solutions of up to 50 wt% were reacted over magnesium oxide catalysts at temperatures greater than 300 °C, the reactivity of which was compared to catalyst-free reactions.