Photocatalytic Oxidation of HMF under Solar Irradiation: Coupling of Microemulsion and Lyophilization to Obtain Innovative TiO2-Based Materials |
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| Authors: | Alessandro Allegri Valeriia Maslova Magda Blosi Anna Luisa Costa Simona Ortelli Francesco Basile Stefania Albonetti |
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| Institution: | 1.Dip. Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari”, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna (BO), Italy; (A.A.); (F.B.);2.ISTEC-CNR, Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, National Research Council, Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy; (M.B.); (A.L.C.); (S.O.) |
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| Abstract: | The photocatalytic oxidation of biomass-derived building blocks such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising reaction for obtaining valuable chemicals and the efficient long-term storage of solar radiation. In this work, we developed innovative TiO2-based materials capable of base-free HMF photo-oxidation in water using simulated solar irradiation. The materials were prepared by combining microemulsion and spray-freeze drying (SFD), resulting in highly porous systems with a large surface area. The effect of titania/silica composition and the presence of gold-copper alloy nanoparticles on the properties of materials as well as photocatalytic performance were evaluated. Among the lab-synthesized photocatalysts, Ti15Si85 SFD and Au3Cu1/Ti15Si85 SFD achieved the higher conversions, while the best selectivity was observed for Au3Cu1/Ti15Si85 SFD. The tests with radical scavengers for both TiO2-m and Au3Cu1/Ti15Si85 SFD suggested that primary species responsible for the selective photo-oxidation of HMF are photo-generated electrons and/or superoxide radicals. |
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| Keywords: | 5-hydroxymethyl furfural spray-freeze drying photocatalysis TiO2 microemulsion |
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