Chemists around the World,Take Your Part in the Circular Economy!

Based on recent examples and initiatives reported in the literature, this concept article discusses how chemistry can contribute to the circular economy approach in order to improve our current and future economical, societal, and environmental system. Through five proposed levels of contribution, chemists can take a significant part in this global approach via the consideration of green chemistry principles, the simplification of syntheses, the limitation of complex products preparation, the efficient utilization of resources but also the novel ways of waste valorization. A more systematic and generalized environmental and economic assessment from the lab-scale is also recommended. At last, chemists have to work even more collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary way, within chemistry and beyond.     

(Re)-thinking the bio-prospect of lignin biomass recycling to meet Sustainable Development Goals and circular economy aspects

Lignin, as an abundant natural polymer with interesting mechanical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, has the possibility to produce numerous chemicals and biofuels of current interest. However, the structural recalcitrance, heterogeneity, and complex extraction methods of lignin can hinder its transformation into value-added materials. Therefore, the research community is exploring innovative bioconversion technologies capable of effectively valorizing lignin. Thus, effective bioconversion and deconstruction methods have been recently studied. In this review, we first define lignin as a versatile raw material considering its characteristics, properties, and abundance. Then, lignin valorization is described in terms of the current opportunities and technical challenges. Finally, we discuss the industrial potential of lignin-derived products such as biofuels, biopolymers, biopesticides, and fertilizers. Those lignin-derived products are highly valuable for the energy and food industries, which are two main sectors challenged by the rapid growth of population, urbanization, and consumption. Thus, progress on lignin valorization would represent significant advancements in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and circular economy aspects.     

Residue valorization: Preparation of recyclable organic amine adsorbent using laterite residue

This study focuses on exploiting the main component of traditional nickel metallurgical waste for use as a valuable material that can be applied in the removal of organic amines from water systems. Silicon compounds from metallurgic waste were converted into dissolvable sodium silicate by roasting the waste with alkali. Silica with adsorption capacity was combined with magnetic NiFe cores by the carbonation decomposition of purified silicate solution. The composite magnetic adsorbent was characterized, and its adsorption mechanism for organic amines was investigated. The effects of the initial trimethylamine concentration, contact time and temperature on the adsorption efficiency of the composite adsorbent towards trimethylamine were investigated. It was found that the adsorption fit the Freundlich mode well. The adsorption kinetics can be described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity reached 55.8 μg/mg at 293 K. The use of metallurgical waste to prepare the magnetic composite adsorbent has three advantages, which include benefiting the environment by reducing the amount of solid waste and costs associated with constructing and maintaining storage facilities, generating valuable products in an economical manner and conveniently recycling used adsorbents to avoid secondary pollution.     

One‐Pot Cooperation of Single‐Atom Rh and Ru Solid Catalysts for a Selective Tandem Olefin Isomerization‐Hydrosilylation Process

Realizing the full potential of oxide‐supported single‐atom metal catalysts (SACs) is key to successfully bridge the gap between the fields of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Here we show that the one‐pot combination of Ru₁/CeO₂ and Rh₁/CeO₂ SACs enables a highly selective olefin isomerization‐hydrosilylation tandem process, hitherto restricted to molecular catalysts in solution. Individually, monoatomic Ru and Rh sites show a remarkable reaction specificity for olefin double‐bond migration and anti‐Markovnikov α‐olefin hydrosilylation, respectively. First‐principles DFT calculations ascribe such selectivity to differences in the binding strength of the olefin substrate to the monoatomic metal centers. The single‐pot cooperation of the two SACs allows the production of terminal organosilane compounds with high regio‐selectivity (>95 %) even from industrially‐relevant complex mixtures of terminal and internal olefins, alongside a straightforward catalyst recycling and reuse. These results demonstrate the significance of oxide‐supported single‐atom metal catalysts in tandem catalytic reactions, which are central for the intensification of chemical processes.     

载体表面酸碱性质对无碱水溶液中Au催化的甘油氧化反应产物选择性的调控作用

甘油(GL)是一种重要的生物平台分子,通过催化选择氧化反应将其转化为具有高附加值化学品是可持续发展化学化工的重要课题之一.以Au为催化剂的GL水相选择氧化反应可以生成甘油酸(GLA)、二羟基丙酮(DHA)、羟基丙二酸(TTA)、羟基乙酸(GCA)和乳酸(LA)等多种产物.通常,该反应需要碱(NaOH)存在时才能进行,产物往往以GLA为主(选择性40%-70%),副产物主要有GCA, TTA和草酸(OA).一般认为,可溶性碱(OH-)是通过夺取GL分子中羟基上的质子而诱发反应的.尽管在Au催化的反应体系中从未检测到有甘油醛(GLD)生成, GLD和/或DHA被认为是该反应的中间物种.本课题组前期工作表明,氧化物(TiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, CuO等)负载的纳米Au催化剂能够在无碱(无外加OH-)水溶液中选择性催化GL氧化生成DHA(而不是GLA).因此, OH-的存在与否很可能会改变水溶液中Au催化剂上GL氧化反应的途径.本文试图回答当GL的水溶液中不存在NaOH时, Au催化剂载体的表面酸碱性质是否也会对GL氧化反应的选择性产生调控作用.我们选用Mg/Al比(x)不同的MgO-Al2O3样品为Au催化剂的载体,以尿素为沉淀剂,采用沉积沉淀法制备了相应的Au/MgO-Al2O3(x)催化剂样品.采用X射线衍射、电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱仪、透射电镜以及N2吸附-脱附等温线等对MgO-Al2O3(x)和/或Au/MgO-Al2O3样品的物相、元素组成、Au颗粒大小以及比表面积等进行了表征分析;采用NH3和CO2程序升温脱附(TPD)分别对MgO-Al2O3(x)载体表面的酸、碱性进行了测定. NH3-TPD和CO2-TPD结果表明,随着Mg/Al比x从0增加至4.8, MgO-Al2O3(x)的表面酸量从0.94降到0.20μmol/m2,而其表面碱量却从0.05剧增至0.80μmol/m2.因此,载体中MgO含量越多或Mg/Al比越大,其酸性越弱而碱性越强.在无碱水溶液中的催化反应结果表明, Au/MgO-Al2O3(x)上GL氧化反应的主要产物为DHA, GLA以及GCA等.随着x值(催化剂表面碱性)不断增大,产物DHA的选择性从约80%下降到10%左右,而GLA的选择性却从约4%增加至约50%.当载体为酸性最强的Al2O3(x =0)时,产物DHA的选择性为最高(80%).由此可见,载体表面的酸碱性质决定了无碱水溶液中Au催化剂上的GL氧化产物的分布. 此外,当保持Au粒子的尺寸基本不变(如3.1或6.6 nm左右),而改变载体的酸碱性质时, Au/MgO-Al2O3催化GL氧化反应的活性(TOF)可相差8-9倍.本文还通过改变Au/MgO-Al2O3样品焙烧温度,制备了表面酸碱性质相同而颗粒大小不同的三个Au/MgO-Al2O3(0.2)催化剂,考察了Au粒径对GL氧化反应选择性的影响.在这三个催化剂上, Au颗粒的平均尺寸分别为2.8,3.2和6.6 nm, GL氧化反应的产物选择性近乎相同(DHA和GLA的选择性分别为65%和15%左右),但平均尺寸为6.6 nm Au粒子的催化活性(TOF)是3.2 nm Au粒子的1.6倍,2.8 nm Au粒子的2.7倍.因此,本文建立了载体表面酸碱性质与无碱水溶液中GL氧化产物选择性之间的关系,通过改变载体表面酸碱性质实现了对无碱水溶液中Au催化剂上GL氧化反应选择性的调控.尽管载体酸碱性质和Au粒子尺寸都对Au/MgO-Al2O3催化剂的本征活性有重要影响,但载体酸碱性质的影响更显著.     

Valorization of Rice Straw via Hydrotropic Lignin Extraction and Its Characterization

Rice straw hydrotropic lignin was extracted from p-Toluene sulfonic acid (p-TsOH) fractionation with a different combined delignification factor (CDF). Hydrotropic lignin characterization was systematically investigated, and alkaline lignin was also studied for the contrast. Results showed that the hydrotropic rice straw lignin particle was in nanometer scopes. Compared with alkaline lignin, the hydrotropic lignin had greater molecular weight. NMR analysis showed that β-aryl ether linkage was well preserved at low severities, and the unsaturation in the side chain of hydrotropic lignin was high. H units and G units were preferentially degraded and subsequently condensed at high severity. High severity also resulted in the cleavage of part β-aryl ether linkage. ³¹P-NMR showed the decrease in aliphatic hydroxyl groups and the increasing carboxyl group content at high severity. The maximum weight loss temperature of the hydrotropic lignin was in the range of 330–350 °C, higher than the alkaline lignin, and the glass conversion temperature (T_g) of the hydrotropic lignin was in the range of 107–125 °C, lower than that of the alkaline lignin. The hydrotropic lignin has high β-aryl ether linkage content, high activity, nanoscale particle size, and low T_g, which is beneficial for its further valorization.     

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) as a green and efficient dipolar aprotic reaction medium

The great challenge for modern research is to define the most efficient tools to make more sustainable the industrial production and manufacturing. Among the different aspects that require attention the replacement of toxic and/or non-renewable solvents it is certainly playing a crucial role. Dealing with widely used dipolar aprotic solvents, among the different alternatives proposed in the literature γ-valerolactone (GVL) plays a pivotal role covering different application area. In this contribution, the benefits derived from the use of GVL as a circular, safe, biomass-derived reaction medium are highlighted covering most recent publications (2021). The presentation has been divided into three major sections: (i) biomass valorization, (ii) materials synthesis, manufacturing and recycle and (iii) new synthetic methodologies.