Humins with Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption: A By-Product of Furfural Conversion to Isopropyl Levulinate via a Tandem Catalytic Reaction in One-Pot

Both one-pot catalytic conversion of furfural (FAL) to isopropyl levulinate (PL) and carbonization of by-product (humins) for electromagnetic wave absorption are discussed, which provides inspiration that humins can be applied to electromagnetic wave absorption. In the former, phosphotungstic acid (PW) is employed as a homogeneous catalyst to convert FAL to PL via a tandem reaction in one pot, with the formation of a vast amount of humins. With FAL and various intermediates as substrates, it was found that humins was a polymerization product of FAL, furfuryl alcohol (FOL) and furfuryl ester (FE) with furan rings. In addition, the in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectra also provided a basis for the proposed reaction route. In the latter, with the humins as raw material, P species and WO₃ doped nano-porous carbon (Humins-700) platform formed after high-temperature annealing is used for electromagnetic wave absorption and manifests desirable absorption performance. The minimum reflection loss (RL_min) value is −47.3 dB at 13.0 GHz with a thickness of 2.0 mm and the effective absorption bandwidth reaches 4.5 GHz (11.2–5.7 GHz).     

Thermal unimolecular decomposition of ethyl 2-furoate and its reactivity toward OH radicals: A theoretical study

Mechanism and kinetics of the thermal pyrolysis of ethyl 2-furoate were studied in a wide range of conditions (ie, 500-1500 K and 1-7600 Torr) using the accurate dual-level theory CCSD(T)&MP2(FC)//B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ and state-of-the-art Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus based master equation rate model including hindered internal rotation and tunneling treatments. The predicted rate coefficients are found to be in accordance with the experimental data. The mechanism details are revealed as (i) the major decomposition channel occurs via a six-center transition state with the barrier energy of 48.3 kcal/mol at 0 K, leading to the formation of C₂H₄ and 2-furoic acid and (ii) pressure has a slightly positive effect on the rate constant, particularly at the high temperature. Also, the reactivity of ethyl 2-furoate toward OH radicals was discussed in the first place.     

Ionic Liquid Stabilized Gelatin–Lignin Films: A Potential UV-Shielding Material with Excellent Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties

Significant research is currently underway to develop environmentally friendly UV-shielding materials. Herein, we have constructed choline citrate (a biobased ionic liquid, IL) stabilized homogeneous gelatin–lignin UV-shielding films with excellent antimicrobial and mechanical properties. The synthesis procedure of the films is less energy demanding, one pot, and sustainable in nature. Prepared films were characterized by mechanical and thermal analysis using UTM and TGA, respectively. ATR-IR and PXRD was employed to explore the possible formation of H-bonding between biopolymers and the IL and the change in crystallinity in films after addition of IL to the gelatin–lignin matrix. Surface morphology of prepared films has been studied using optical microscope, AFM, and field emission SEM (FE-SEM). Optical properties of prepared films were measured using UV/Vis spectroscopy. Antimicrobial activity of the prepared films was tested against Bacillus subtilis. Prepared biofilms showed a sun-protection factor (SPF) of up to ≈45.0, large elongation ≈200 %, and tensile strength ≈70 MPa, which are as good as those values exhibited by organic polymeric films, indicating a promising renewable-resources-based material for UV light blocking.     

Strategies for synthesis of epoxy resins from oleic acid derived from food wastes

The use of biomass‐sourced chemical feedstocks creates a conflict over land use between food and fuel/chemical production. Such conflict could be reduced by making use of the annual 1.3 Pg food waste resource. Oleic acid is available from seed oils such as pumpkin, grape, avocado and mango. Its esterification with diols 1,3‐propanediol, resorcinol and orcinol was used to form diesters and the naturally occurring norspermidine was used to prepare a diamide, all under ambient conditions. These compounds were then epoxidized and polymerized. When esterification was followed by epoxidation and subsequent curing at elevated temperature with p‐phenylenediamine or diethylenetriamine, hard insoluble resins were formed. When the sequence was changed such that the epoxidized oleic acid was first reacted with cis‐1,2‐cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and then esterified with orcinol and resorcinol, insoluble crosslinked polymers were also obtained. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3159–3170     

Molybdenum-Catalyzed Deoxygenation Coupling of Lignin-Derived Alcohols for Functionalized Bibenzyl Chemicals

With the growing demand for sustainability and reducing CO₂ footprint, lignocellulosic biomass has attracted much attention as a renewable, carbon-neutral and low-cost feedstock for the production of chemicals and fuels. To realize efficient utilization of biomass resource, it is essential to selectively alter the high degree of oxygen functionality of biomass-derivates. Herein, we introduced a novel procedure to transform renewable lignin-derived alcohols to various functionalized bibenzyl chemicals. This strategy relied on a short deoxygenation coupling pathway with economical molybdenum catalyst. A well-designed H-donor experiment was performed to investigate the mechanism of this Mo-catalyzed process. It was proven that benzyl carbon-radical was the most possible intermediate to form the bibenzyl products. It was also discovered that the para methoxy and phenolic hydroxyl groups could stabilize the corresponding radical intermediates and then facilitate to selectively obtain bibenzyl products. Our research provides a promising application to produce functionalized aromatics from biomass-derived materials.     

Thermoset matrix reinforced with sisal fibers: Effect of the cure cycle on the properties of the biobased composite

Thermoset phenolic composites reinforced with sisal fibers were prepared to optimize the cure step. In the present study, processing parameters such as pressure, temperature, and time interval were varied to control the vaporization of the water generated as a byproduct during the crosslinking reaction. These molecules can vaporize forming voids, which in turn affect the final material properties. The set of results on impact strength revealed that the application of higher pressure before the gel point of the phenolic matrix produced composites with better properties. The SEM images showed that the cure cycle corresponding to the application of higher values of molding pressure at the gel point of the phenolic resin led to the reduction of voids in the matrix. In addition, the increase in the molding pressure during the cure step increased the resin interdiffusion. Better filling of the fiber channels decreased the possibility of water molecules diffusing through the internal spaces of the fibers. These molecules then diffused mainly through the bulk of the thermoset matrix, which led to a decrease in the water diffusion coefficient (D) at all three temperatures (25, 55 and 70 °C) considered in the experiments.     

生物质流化床气化焦油析出特性的研究

生物质气化中焦油的存在严重地影响了气化设备的正常运行。为了了解生物质流化床气化过程中焦油的析出和脱除特性,以花生壳、稻草以及木屑为原料,采用流化床气化反应系统,研究了气化温度(750℃～850℃)、空气当量系数(0.15～0.35)以及催化剂(白云石、橄榄石与菱镁矿)的添加等对气体产物中焦油的析出组成特性的影响,并采用色谱 质谱联用仪对焦油的主要成分进行了分析。实验结果表明,随着温度的升高,焦油的量快速降低;催化剂的添加也有类似的结果。这说明高温和催化剂有利于大分子焦油的催化裂解。     

Spectroscopic analyses of chemical adaptation processes within microalgal biomass in response to changing environments

Via photosynthesis, marine phytoplankton transforms large quantities of inorganic compounds into biomass. This has considerable environmental impacts as microalgae contribute for instance to counter-balancing anthropogenic releases of the greenhouse gas CO₂. On the other hand, high concentrations of nitrogen compounds in an ecosystem can lead to harmful algae blooms. In previous investigations it was found that the chemical composition of microalgal biomass is strongly dependent on the nutrient availability. Therefore, it is expected that algae’s sequestration capabilities and productivity are also determined by the cells’ chemical environments. For investigating this hypothesis, novel analytical methodologies are required which are capable of monitoring live cells exposed to chemically shifting environments followed by chemometric modeling of their chemical adaptation dynamics.     

Degradation and Crystallization of Cellulose in Hydrogen Chloride Vapor for High‐Yield Isolation of Cellulose Nanocrystals

Despite the structural, load‐bearing role of cellulose in the plant kingdom, countless efforts have been devoted to degrading this recalcitrant polysaccharide, particularly in the context of biofuels and renewable nanomaterials. Herein, we show how the exposure of plant‐based fibers to HCl vapor results in rapid degradation with simultaneous crystallization. Because of the unchanged sample texture and the lack of mass transfer out of the substrate in the gas/solid system, the changes in the crystallinity could be reliably monitored. Furthermore, we describe the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals in high yields and with minimal water consumption. The study serves as a starting point for the solid‐state tuning of the supramolecular properties of morphologically heterogeneous biological materials.