Catalyst Development for the Hydrogenolysis of Biomass-Derived Chemicals to Value-Added Ones

Hydrogenolysis of biomass-related chemicals such as glycerol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to the products that are difficult for the typical indirect mechanism to produce is reviewed. The modification of rhodium or iridium particles with rhenium much enhances the catalytic activity to the hydrogenolysis of C–O bond neighboring to terminal –CH₂OH groups.     

木质纤维素催化转化制备能源平台化合物

可再生生物质资源的能源化利用能有效缓解能源短缺和环境恶化的双重压力。木质纤维素类生物质原料通过催化转化途径可以转化成为用途广泛的平台化合物,如呋喃类化合物、多元醇和有机酸及其酯类衍生物等。以这些平台化合物为原料,通过基元反应的转化可以制备高附加值的生物质基液体燃料。基于上述背景,本文概述了国内外木质纤维素通过不同催化转化途径制备各种新能源平台化合物的研究进展。目前木质纤维素制备新能源平台化合物的可行途径主要包括液体酸催化、固体酸催化、离子液体催化和多功能材料催化。在介绍这些催化途径的同时,重点讨论了所使用的催化剂,分析了仍然存在的问题和可能的解决措施,同时对今后该领域的研究前景进行了展望。     

Recent Progress in Metal-Catalyzed Selective Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural into Furan-Based Value-Added Chemicals

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), one of the most significant biomass-derived renewable resources, has been widely utilized to create furan-based value-added chemicals such as 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA), 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA), and 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Indeed, DFF, HMFCA and FFCA are key intermediate products during the oxidation of HMF to FDCA. Herein, this review aims to demonstrate the recent advances in metal-catalyzed oxidation of HMF into FDCA via two different reaction routes (HMF-DFF-FFCA-FDCA and HMF-HMFCA-FFCA-FDCA). All the four furan-based compounds are comprehensively discussed by the selective oxidation of HMF. Additionally, various metal catalysts, reaction conditions, and reaction mechanisms used to obtain the four different products are systematically reviewed. It is anticipated that this review will provide related researchers with new perspectives and speed up the development of this field.     

Catalytic Conversion of Biomass-Derived Polyols into Para-xylene over SiO2-Modified Zeolites

This work proved that biomass-based polyols (sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, glycerol and ethanediol) were able to be converted into high-value chemical (p-xylene) by catalytic cracking of polyols, alkylation of aromatics, and the isomerization of xylenes over the SiO₂-modified zeolites. Compared to the conventional HZSM-5 zeolite, the SiO₂-containing zeolites considerably increased the selectivity and yield of p-xylene due to the reduction of external surface acidity and the narrowing of pore entrance. The influences of the methanol additive, reaction temperature, and types of polyols on the selectivity and yield of p-xylene were investigated in detail. Catalytic cracking of polyols with methanol significantly enhanced the production of p-xylene by the alkylation of toluene with methanol. The highest p-xylene yield of 10.9 C-mol% with a p-xylene/xylenes ratio of 91.1% was obtained over the 15wt%SiO₂/HZSM-5 catalyst. The reaction pathway for the formation of p-xylene was addressed according to the study of the key reactions and the characterization of catalysts.     

生物质利用新途径:多元醇催化合成可再生燃料和化学品

日益严重的全球性能源和环境问题促使开发利用可再生的生物质资源成为当前研究的一个热点。本文概述了生物质基多元醇合成燃料和化学品来实现生物质转化利用的一些最新进展,特别是集中介绍了甘油和山梨醇等多元醇催化水相重整合成氢气和液体烃等燃料、催化选择氢解和氧化合成高附加值化学品或化学中间体等方面的进展,分析了存在的问题和可能的解决措施以及今后的发展趋势,指出生物质基多元醇将成为今后合成可再生燃料和化学品的新型平台分子。     

呋喃类平台化合物催化转化成可再生化学品和燃料

正随着石油资源的相对贫乏和环境问题的加剧,寻求新的能源和途径来代替传统的化石资源越来越受到人们的关注.生物质在地球上含量丰富、分布广泛、价格较低廉且能够很好的实现碳循环,作为一种可持续和可再生资源,在取代传统的石油产品方面具有很大的潜力,能很好满足社会对燃料和化学品的需求,从而实现由不可再生的石油资源向可再生的生物能源的过渡.植物类生物质的主要成分是碳水化合物即纤维素和木质素,在一定条件下可     

纤维素催化转化为高附加值化学品的研究进展

Currently,under huge pressure from energy demands and environmental problems,much attention is being paid to biomass conversion,which will play an important role in meeting the requirements for a sustainable society.As the most abundant biomass on earth, cellulose is usually used as the first research target for biomass conversion.In this review,the recalcitrant structure of cellulose is discussed and non-catalytic hydrolysis by hot-compressed water and catalytic hydrolysis using solid acids are then considered.We also review the catalytic conversion of cellulose into valuable chemicals including hexitols(sorbitol and mannitol),ethylene glycol,and related compounds using various heterogeneous catalysts.     

生物质利用新途径:多元醇催化合成可再生燃料和化学品

日益严重的全球性能源和环境问题促使开发利用可再生的生物质资源成为当前研究的一个热点.本文概述了生物质基多元醇合成燃料和化学品来实现生物质转化利用的一些最新进展,特别是集中介绍了甘油和山梨醇等多元醇催化水相重整合成氢气和液体烃等燃料、催化选择氢解和氧化合成高附加值化学品或化学中间体等方面的进展,分析了存在的问题和可能的解决措施以及今后的发展趋势,指出生物质基多元醇将成为今后合成可再生燃料和化学品的新型平台分子.     

Novel Catalytic Systems to Convert Chitin and Lignin into Valuable Chemicals

This review briefs the emerging strategies for the designing of catalysts and catalytic systems to upgrade waste biomass into value-added chemicals, with an emphasis on the efforts and advances in our group. The review covers the valorization of chitin and lignin materials, which are most abundant N-containing and the most abundant aromatic polymers, respectively. In the chitin part, we show case existing examples on chitin monomer and chitin transformation into renewable, N-containing chemicals. Oxidation, hydrolysis, dehydration reactions will be introduced. In lignin part we mainly introduce novel catalyst for lignin hydrogenolysis, in particular Ni based monometallic and bimetallic catalysts. The structure–activity correlations will be discussed in detail. We finally describe some of the undergoing works in the group and highlight a few potential directions worth investigation in the future.     

Radical-Mediated Photocatalysis for Lignocellulosic Biomass Conversion into Value-Added Chemicals and Hydrogen: Facts,Opportunities and Challenges

Photocatalytic biomass conversion into high-value chemicals and fuels is considered one of the hottest ongoing research and industrial topics toward sustainable development. In short, this process can cleave C_β−O/C_α−C_β bonds in lignin to aromatic platform chemicals, and further conversion of the polysaccharides to other platform chemicals and H₂. From the chemistry point of view, the optimization of the unique cooperative interplay of radical oxidation species (which are activated via molecular oxygen species, ROSs) and substrate-derived radical intermediates by appropriate control of their type and/or yield is key to the selective production of desired products. Technically, several challenges have been raised that face successful real-world applications. This review aims to discuss the recently reported mechanistic pathways toward selective biomass conversion through the optimization of ROSs behavior and materials/system design. On top of that, through a SWOT analysis, we critically discussed this technology from both chemistry and technological viewpoints to help the scientists and engineers bridge the gap between lab-scale and large-scale production.     

Heterogeneous Catalytic Transformations of Natural Camphene

Reactions of the natural terpene camphene with various reagents on zeolitic catalysts are reviewed.     

二氧化碳化学:二氧化碳的催化转化反应

二氧化碳既是温室气体的主要成分又是储量丰富且可再生的碳资源,研究二氧化碳的化学转化和利用有着重要意义。基于二氧化碳与催化剂的弱相互作用以及催化活化原理,通过采用环境友好的反应介质(如高密度二氧化碳、聚乙二醇等)及催化剂的设计、分离和循环利用等策略,设计并合成了单组分和双组分的功能化高效催化剂用于合成有机碳酸酯、脲、噁唑啉酮和喹唑啉二酮类化合物,并相应建立了具有重要工业应用价值的合成新方法以及环境友好的新工艺。以二氧化碳为合成子的精细化工中间体合成不但丰富了有机化学的合成方法学,也为解决日渐严重的环境问题提供潜在的新方法。在此,对本课题组近二年来在二氧化碳化学尤其是二氧化碳催化转化方法方面的研究成果做一小结。     

酶法催化二氧化碳制备高附加值化学品研究进展

现代工业的发展不断消耗煤、石油、天然气等碳化石燃料,并产生了大量的温室气体CO₂,使人类面临能源和环境的双重挑战,开发绿色能源、控制CO₂对环境的影响迫在眉睫.CO₂是一种廉价的碳源,可通过化学法、光化学法、电化学法或酶法等转化为高附加值含碳化学品,实现CO₂的资源化循环利用,是解决全球碳排放所带来的能源和环境危机的双赢策略.受CO₂胞内天然生物转化的启发,酶法为CO₂的循环利用带来了新的机遇,相比于传统的化学及光、电化学法,可表现出绿色、高效、温和、高选择性等优点,有望为CO₂高值化利用带来新的契机.有鉴于此,本文从胞内CO₂生物转化机理出发,综述了国内外近年来多种单酶及多酶级联催化CO₂高值化利用的最新研究进展,并交叉论述了固定化酶催化体系的构建、酶定向进化和改造、酶催化过程调控等内容,总结了酶法转化目前存在的缺陷和不足,并提出了展望,以期为酶法催化CO₂高值化利用提供一定的参考和借鉴.     

Catalytic Conversion of Macroalgae-derived Alginate to Useful Chemicals

Alginate, a main carbohydrate compound of macroalgae, can be hydrothermally converted to valuable organic products, such as furfural and organic acids, over various types of catalysts. In this review, alginate is evaluated as a renewable biomass feedstock for the production of the useful chemicals, based on the structural differences between alginate and conventional lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks. The influence of different catalysts and reaction conditions on the alginate depolymerization and the product distribution is discussed. Finally, future research direction for the catalytic conversion of alginate is suggested.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Radical Transformations Enabled by Visible Light

Visible light has been recognized as an economical and environmentally benign source of energy that enables chemoselective molecular activation of chemical reactions and hence reveal a new horizon for the design and discovery of novel chemical transformations. On the other hand, asymmetric catalysis represents an economic method to satisfy the increasing need for enantioenriched compounds in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, combining visible light photocatalysis with asymmetric catalysis creates a wider range of opportunities for the development of mechanistically unique reaction schemes. However, there arise two main problems like undesirable photochemical background reactions and difficulties in controlling the stereochemistry with highly reactive photochemical intermediates which can pose a serious challenge to the development of asymmetric visible light photocatalysis. In recent years, several methods have been developed to overcome these challenges. This review summarizes the recent advances in visible light‐induced enantioselective reactions. We divide our discussion into four categories: Asymmetric photoredox organocatalysis, asymmetric transition metal photoredox catalysis, asymmetric photoredox Lewis acid catalysis and asymmetric photoinduced energy transfer catalysis. Special emphasis has been given to different catalytic activation modes that enable the construction of challenging carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bond in an enantioselective fashion. A brief analysis of substrate scope and limitation as well as reaction mechanism of these reactions has been included.     

甘油催化氢解制备精细化学品的研究进展

随着生物柴油产业的快速发展,作为副产物的甘油大量过剩,因而有效利用甘油既能促进生物柴油产业的良性发展,又能节约大量石油资源。通过甘油催化氢解的方式来制备高附加值化学品丙二醇、乙二醇和丙醇等是甘油转化研究中最有潜在应用价值的路径之一,甘油氢解反应易于实现连续化生产,且目标产物附加值高、选择性高,因而具有良好的经济效益。本文首先简要介绍了甘油化学,深入探讨了甘油的氢解机理,然后重点综述了甘油氢解制备1, 2-丙二醇、1, 3-丙二醇、乙二醇和丙醇高效催化剂的研究进展,并对甘油氢解未来的研究方向和发展趋势作了进一步展望。     

Simplified Synthesis of Biomass-Derived Si/C Composites as Stable Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Synthesis of silicon/carbon (Si/C) composites from biomass resources could enable the effective utilization of agricultural products in the battery industry with economical as well as environmental benefits. Herein, a simplified process was developed to synthesize Si/C from biomass, by using a low-cost agricultural byproduct “rice husk (RH)” as a model. This process includes the calcination of RH for SiO₂/C and the reduction of SiO₂/C by Al in molten salts at a moderate temperature. This process does not need the removal of carbon before thermal reduction of SiO₂, which is thought to be necessary to avoid the formation of SiC at elevated temperatures. Thus, carbon derived from biomass can be directly used for Si/C composites for anode materials. The resultant Si/C shows a high reversible capacity of 1309 mAh g⁻¹ and long cycle life (300 cycles). This research advocates a new and simplified strategy for the synthesis of RH-based biomass-derived Si/C, which is beneficial for low-cost, environmentally friendly, and green energy storage applications.     

Deciphering Nitroaromatics Reduction: Theoretical Insights into Dioxomolybdenum Catalysis with Biomass-Derived Pinacol

Density Functional Theory is used to unravel the mechanism of the nitrobenzene to aniline reduction, catalyzed by dioxomolybdenum (VI) dichloride. The use of pinacol as an oxoaccepting reagent and the production of only acetone and water as byproducts, signals a novel and environmentally friendly way to add value to the oxygen-rich biomass-derived polyols. The reaction proceeds through three consecutive cycles, each one responsible for one of the three reductive steps needed to yield aniline from nitrobenzene, with nitrosobenzene and hydroxylamine as intermediates. Each cycle regenerates the catalyst and releases one water and two acetone molecules. The mechanism involves singlet/triplet state crossings, a crucial feature in polyoxomolibdate catalyzed processes. The role of the Mo-coordinated water as the provider of the mysterious protons needed to reduce the nitro group, was revealed. The disclosure of this challenging mechanism and its rate limiting step can contribute to the design of more effective Mo(VI) catalysts.     

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Catalytic Materials

The mechanochemical synthesis of nanomaterials for catalytic applications is a growing research field due to its simplicity, scalability, and eco-friendliness. Besides, it provides materials with distinct features, such as nanocrystallinity, high defect concentration, and close interaction of the components in a system, which are, in most cases, unattainable by conventional routes. Consequently, this research field has recently become highly popular, particularly for the preparation of catalytic materials for various applications, ranging from chemical production over energy conversion catalysis to environmental protection. In this Review, recent studies on mechanochemistry for the synthesis of catalytic materials are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the straightforwardness of the mechanochemical route—in contrast to more conventional synthesis—in fabricating the materials, which otherwise often require harsh conditions. Distinct material properties achieved by mechanochemistry are related to their improved catalytic performance.