Biomass Oxidation: Formyl CH Bond Activation by the Surface Lattice Oxygen of Regenerative CuO Nanoleaves |
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Authors: | Prince N Amaniampong Dr Quang Thang Trinh Dr Bo Wang Dr Armando Borgna Prof Yanhui Yang Prof Samir H Mushrif |
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Institution: | 1. School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459 (Singapore);2. Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833 (Singapore) |
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Abstract: | An integrated experimental and computational investigation reveals that surface lattice oxygen of copper oxide (CuO) nanoleaves activates the formyl C? H bond in glucose and incorporates itself into the glucose molecule to oxidize it to gluconic acid. The reduced CuO catalyst regains its structure, morphology, and activity upon reoxidation. The activity of lattice oxygen is shown to be superior to that of the chemisorbed oxygen on the metal surface and the hydrogen abstraction ability of the catalyst is correlated with the adsorption energy. Based on the present investigation, it is suggested that surface lattice oxygen is critical for the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid, without further breaking down the glucose molecule into smaller fragments, because of C? C cleavage. Using CuO nanoleaves as catalyst, an excellent yield of gluconic acid is also obtained for the direct oxidation of cellobiose and polymeric cellulose, as biomass substrates. |
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Keywords: | biomass catalysis C H bond activation lattice oxygen sustainable chemistry |
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