Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin-Derived Vanillin via Hetero-Structured High-Entropy Alloy/Oxide Catalysts

The chemoselective hydrodeoxygenation of natural lignocellulosic materials plays a crucial role in converting biomass into value-added chemicals.Yet their complex molecular structures often require multiple active sites synergy for effective activation and achieving high chemoselectivity.Herein,it is reported that a high-entropy alloy(HEA)on high-entropy oxide(HEO)hetero-structured catalyst for highly active,chemoselective,and robust vanillin hydrodeoxygenation.The heterogenous HEA/HEO catalysts were prepared by thermal reduction of senary HEOs(NiZnCuFeAlZrO_(x)),where exsolvable metals(e.g.,Ni,Zn,Cu)in situ emerged and formed randomly dispersed HEA nanoparticles anchoring on the HEO matrix.This catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance:100%conversion of vanillin and 95%selectivity toward high-value 2-methyl-4 methoxy phenol at low temperature of 120℃,which were attributed to the synergistic effect among HEO matrix(with abundant oxygen vacancies),anchored HEA nanoparticles(having excellent hydrogenolysis capability),and their intimate hetero-interfaces(showing strong electron transferring effect).Therefore,our work reported the successful construction of HEA/HEO heterogeneous catalysts and their superior multifunctionality in biomass conversion,which could shed light on catalyst design for many important reactions that are complex and require multifunctional active sites.

Palladium nanoparticles in cross-linked polyaniline as highly efficient catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura reactions

Palladium nanoparticles supported on cross-linked polyaniline with bulky phosphorus ligands were developed.These catalysts showed high efficiency in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of aryl chlorides and bromides with phenylboronic acids.Aryl chlorides and bromides with functional groups,such as CN,MeO,CHO,MeCO and NO_2,were converted to the corresponding biphenyls in high yields with catalyst loading.Additionally,the catalysts combined high activity with good reusability;they could be used at least five times for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.

State-of-the-art catalysts for direct dehydrogenation of propane to propylene

With growing demand for propylene and increasing production of propane from shale gas,the technologies of propylene production,including direct dehydrogenation and oxidative dehydrogenation of propane,have drawn great attention in recent years.In particular,direct dehydrogenation of propane to propylene is regarded as one of the most promising methods of propylene production because it is an on-purpose technique that exclusively yields propylene instead of a mixture of products.In this critical review,we provide the current investigations on the heterogeneous catalysts(such as Pt,CrOx,VOx,GaOx-based catalysts,and nanocarbons)used in the direct dehydrogenation of propane to propylene.A detailed comparison and discussion of the active sites,catalytic mechanisms,influencing factors(such as the structures,dispersions,and reducibilities of the catalysts and promoters),and supports for different types of catalysts is presented.Furthermore,rational designs and preparation of high-performance catalysts for propane dehydrogenation are proposed and discussed.

A design of experiments approach for the development of plasma synthesized Sn-silicate catalysts for the isomerization of glucose to fructose

The use of non-equilibrium plasmas for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts is a field that has not been explored intensively. The main reasons for the recent increase of research activity in this field are related to the advantages that go with the technique of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition （PECVD）. The most principal of these advantages are the possibility to avoid the use of environmentally harmful solvents and the one-step nature of the procedure, making it very time and labor efficient. Non-equilibrium plasma technology, more in particular dielectric barrier discharge （DBD） technology, has been applied in this work for the synthesis of hybrid tin-silicate materials to be used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the isomerization of glucose into fructose. Atomizers, innovative devices which make it possible to inject nanosized precursor liquids into the plasma zone, are used instead of applying vapor phase techniques, where the amount of precursor is limited by the vapor pressure of the liquid. A design of experiments approach has been employed to investigate the effect of the plasma parameters, namely gas flow, frequency and power density, on the catalytic properties of the catalysts within a well-defined parameter field. It has been found that indeed these parameters, together with the molar ratio of Si/Sn, have an important influence on the activity, selectivity, and thus yield of the produced chemicals.

Stabilization of heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts for the aqueous-phase reactions of renewable feedstocks

The conversion of biomass-derived products to fine chemicals and fuels is extremely important for the utilization of renewable energy sources.Water is not only a by-product formed during the hydrogenation of biomass-derived oxygenated chemicals,but also an inexpensive and nontoxic solvent.The instability of solid catalysts for aqueous-phase reactions caused by metal leaching and the collapse of a catalyst support represents a significant challenge.In this work,various catalyst stabilization strategies including the nanospace and interfacial confinements that prevent sintering and leaching of metal nanoparticles as well as modification methods for increasing the support stability are summarized and systemically discussed.In addition,feasible approaches to designing stable and efficient heterogeneous catalysts for aqueous-phase reactions are proposed.

Recent advances and perspectives in cobalt‐based heterogeneous catalysts for photocatalytic water splitting,CO_(2) reduction,and N_(2) fixation

Solar‐driven conversion of carbon dioxide,water and nitrogen into high value‐added fuels(e.g.H_(2),CO,CH_(4),CH_(3)OH,NH_(3) and so on)is regarded as an environmental‐friendly and ideal route for relieving the greenhouse gas effect and countering energy crisis,which is an attractive and challenging topic.Hence,various types of photocatalysts have been developed successively to meet the requirements of these photocatalysis.Among them,cobalt‐based heterogeneous catalysts emerge as one of the most promising photocatalysts that open up alluring vistas in the field of solar‐to‐fuels conversion,which can effectively enhance photocatalytic efficiency by extending light absorption range,promoting charge separation,providing active sites,and lowering reaction barrier.In this review,we first present the working principles of cobalt‐based heterogeneous catalysts for photocatalytic water splitting,CO_(2) reduction,and N_(2) fixation.Second,five efficient strategies including surface modification,morphology modulation,crystallinity controlling,crystal engineering and doping,are discussed for improving the photocatalytic performance with different types cobalt‐based catalysts(cobalt nanoparticles and single atom,oxides,sulfides,phosphides,MOFs,COFs,LDHs,carbide,and nitrides).Third,we outline the applications for the state‐of‐the‐art photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction and water splitting,and nitrogen fixation over cobalt‐based heterogeneous catalysts.Finally,the central challenges and possible improvements of cobalt‐based photocatalysis in the future are presented.The purpose of this review is to summarize the past experience and lessons,and provide reference for the further development of cobalt‐based photocatalysis technology.

Quaternary-ammonium-immobilized polystyrenes as efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalysts for synthesis of cyclic carbonate:Effects of linking chains and pendent hydroxyl group

Spherical polystyrene‐supported ammonium salts containing different linking chains between the support and ammonium groups were prepared as efficient and easily reusable heterogeneous catalysts for the cycloadditions of CO2and epoxides.The effects of the length of the linking chains and a hydroxyl group pendent on the linking chain on the catalytic performance of ionic liquid immobilized catalysts and their mechanisms were studied through experiments and density functional theory calculations.It was found that,compared with a short linking chain,a long chain can make the halogen anion more negative and provide a larger contact area of the catalysts with the reactants,thus enhancing the reaction kinetics.The hydroxyl group can stretch the C-O bonds of the epoxides,promoting the reaction thermodynamics.As a result,for the cycloaddition of propylene oxide,the yield of propylene carbonate is much higher for the catalyst with a long linking chain(yield:91.4%)compared with the yield for that with a short chain(yield:70.9%),and is further increased in the presence of pendent hydroxyl groups(yield:98.5%).The catalyst also shows a high catalytic activity even at mild temperature and good reusability(yield:≥96%for10cycles),and the selectivity is always above99%.

Honeycomb-structured solid acid catalysts fabricated via the swelling-induced self-assembly of acidic poly(ionic liquid)s for highly efficient hydrolysis reactions

The development of heterogeneous acid catalysts with higher activity than homogeneous acid catalysts is critical and still challenging.In this study,acidic poly(ionic liquid)s with swelling ability(SAPILs)were designed and synthesized via the free radical copolymerization of ionic liquid monomers,sodium p-styrenesulfonate,and crosslinkers,followed by acidification.The 31P nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts of adsorbed trimethylphosphine oxide indicated that the synthesized SAPILs presented moderate and single acid strength.The thermogravimetric analysis results in the temperature range of 300–345°C revealed that the synthesized SAPILs were more stable than the commercial resin Amberlite IR-120(H)(245°C).Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy testing demonstrated that SAPILs presented unique three-dimensional(3D)honeycomb structure in water,which was ascribed to the swelling-induced self-assembly of the molecules.Moreover,we used SAPILs with micron-sized honeycomb structure in water as catalysts for the hydrolysis of cyclohexyl acetate to cyclohexanol,and determined that their catalytic activity was much higher than that of homogeneous acid catalysts.The equilibrium concentrations of all reaction components inside and outside the synthesized SAPILs were quantitatively analyzed using a series of simulated reaction mixtures.Depending on the reaction mixture,the concentration of cyclohexyl acetate inside SAPIL-1 was 7.5–23.3 times higher than that outside of it,which suggested the high enrichment ability of SAPILs for cyclohexyl acetate.The excellent catalytic performance of SAPILs was attributed to their 3D honeycomb structure in water and high enrichment ability for cyclohexyl acetate,which opened up new avenues for designing highly efficient heterogeneous acid catalysts that could eventually replace conventional homogeneous acid catalysts.

Structural sensitivity of heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable chemical synthesis of gluconic acid from glucose

Gluconic acid and its derivatives have been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Conventional processes that involve the conversion of glucose into gluconic acid via fermentation present several technological shortcomings as they involve energy-intensive wastewater treatment and complex enzyme separation. Greener oxidation processes over heterogeneous metal catalysts have attracted increasing attention worldwide. Au-, Pt-and Pd-based heterogeneous catalysts have been extensively used for the chemical oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid. Bimetallic catalysts synthesized by adding either noble or inexpensive metals have also presented excellent performance for the oxidations of glucose. In particular, particle size, which has been recognized as the most important factor that affect catalytic performances, could be rationally tuned by changing the types of support and ligand as well as the synthesis conditions. In this perspective review, we summarize and critically discuss the recent advances in the structural design of mono-and bimetallic catalysts for the oxidation of glucose in aqueous media. Furthermore, the challenges of developing catalysts for the green synthesis of gluconic acid have been highlighted. This review provides alternative insights for designing effective catalytic materials for the catalytic oxidation of bio-derived oxygenates over heterogeneous catalysts.

Amine-functionalized boehmite nanoparticle-supported molybdenum and vanadium complexes:Efficient catalysts for epoxidation of alkenes

Boehmite nanoparticles with a high surface area and a high degree of surface hydroxyl groups were covalently functionalized by 3‐（trimethoxysilyl）‐propylamine to support vanadium‐oxo‐sulfate and molybdenum hexacarbonyl complexes. These supported catalysts were then characterized by Fou‐rier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, X‐ray‐photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The catalysts were subsequently used for the epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene, and the experimental procedures were optimized. The progress of the reactions was investigated by gas‐liquid chromatography. Recycling experiments revealed that these nanocatalysts could be repeatedly used several times for a nearly complete epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene. The optimized experimental conditions were also used successfully for the epoxida‐tion of some other substituted alkenes.

Ruthenium promotion of Co/SBA-15 catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in slurry-phase reactors

The aim of this work was to evaluate the catalytic properties of a Ru promoted Co/SBA-15 catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis （FTS）. The Ru promoted Co/SBA-15 catalyst was prepared by wet impregnation method and was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersion spectrophotometer, N2 adsorption-desorption, temperature-programmed reduction and transmission electron microscopy. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using the catalyst was carried out to evaluate the catalyst activity and its effect on FTS product distribution. The synthesis was carried out in a slurry reactor operating at 513 K, 20 atm, CO ： H2 molar ratio of 1 ： 1. X-ray diffraction showed that the calcined cobalt catalyst did not modify the structure of SBA-15, proving that Co was present in the form of Co3O4 in the catalyst. The addition of cobalt in SBA-15 decreased the specific superficial area of the molecular sieve. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis activity and C5＋ hydrocarbon selectivity increased with the addition of Ru. The increases in activity and selectivity were attributed to the increased number of active sites resulting from higher reducibility and the synergetic effect of Ru and Co. Ru/Co/SBA-15 catalysts showed moderate conversion （40%） and high selectivity towards the production of C5＋ （80 wt%）.

Interfacial engineering of heterogeneous molecular electrocatalysts using ionic liquids towards efficient hydrogen peroxide production

Efficient and selective oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)electrocatalysts are critical to realizing decentralized H_(2)O_(2)production and utilization.Here we demonstrate a facile interfacial engineering strategy using a hydrophobic ionic liquid(IL,i.e.,[BMIM][NTF2])to boost the performance of a nitrogen coordinated single atom cobalt catalyst(i.e.),cobalt phthalocyanine(CoPc)supported on carbon nanotubes(CNTs).We find a strong correlation between the ORR performance of CoPc/CNT and the thickness of its IL coatings.Detailed characterization revealed that a higher O_(2)solubility(2.12×10^(−3)mol/L)in the IL compared to aqueous electrolytes provides a local O2 enriched surface layer near active catalytic sites,enhancing the ORR thermodynamics.Further,the hydrophobic IL can efficiently repel the as‐synthesized H_(2)O_(2)molecules from the catalyst surface,preventing their fast decomposition to H_(2)O,resulting in improved H_(2)O_(2)selectivity.Compared to CoPc/CNT without IL coatings,the catalyst with an optimal~8 nm IL coating can deliver a nearly 4 times higher mass specific kinetic current density and 12.5%higher H2O2 selectivity up to 92%.In a two‐electrode electrolyzer test,the optimal catalyst exhibits an enhanced productivity of 3.71 molH2O2 gcat^(–1)h^(–1),and robust stability.This IL‐based interfacial engineering strategy may also be extended to many other electrochemical reactions by carefully tailoring the thickness and hydrophobicity of IL coatings.

Esterification of Free Fatty Acids in Waste Cooking Oil by Heterogeneous Catalysts

Waste cooking oil(WCO) is becoming the most promising alternative feedstock to produce biodiesel due to its low cost in China. In this study, NKC-9 ion-exchange resin and H-beta zeolite were selected as heterogeneous catalysts in the WCO esterification process and their esterification characteristics were compared by orthogonal experiments. NKC-9 resin showed higher activity and achieved a higher final conversion compared with H-beta zeolite under the same reaction conditions. Reusability experiments showed that NKC-9 resin still exhibited high activity after 5 runs. The effects of the mole ratio of alcohol to oil, reaction time, reaction temperature and the catalyst dose were investigated by multifactor orthogonal analysis. The influence of the free fatty acid(FFA) content was also investigated, and the result showed that the esterification rate could be as high as 98.4% when the FFA content was 6.3wt%.

Metal Chlorides Supported Solid Catalysts for F-C Acylations of Arenes

A series of metal chlorides supported solid catalysts were prepared by simple wet impregnation method. Their catalytic performances for Friedel-Crafts acylation of toluene with benzoyl chloride were evaluated and the excellent results were obtained over FeC13/SiO2. These catalysts were characterized by BET, NH3-TPD and FT-IR of pyridine adsorption to clarify the structure-activity relationship. It was found that FeC13/SiO2 has larger pore size and pore volume than other catalysts, which increased the accessibility of the catalyst. In addition, FeC13/SiO2 ex- hibited higher molar ratio of Lewis acid sites and Brtpnsted acid sites, which might be another reason for the in- crease of toluene conversion. Furthermore, the reaction parameters, including temperature, time and molar ratio, were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, 91.2% conversion and 82.0% selectivity were obtained. Mean- while, the generality of the catalyst was demonstrated by the acylations of alkyl substituted aromatics. Finally, the catalyst was reused for four runs with slight loss in catalytic activity, which attributed to the drain of the active component.

Highly reactive and reusable heterogeneous activated carbons-based palladium catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of aryl halides with phenylboronic acid using a heterogeneous palladium catalyst based on activated carbons(AC) was systematically investigated in this work. Two different reaction modes(batch procedure and continuous-flow procedure) were used to study the variations of reaction processing. The heterogeneous catalysts presented excellent reactivity and recyclability for iodobenzene and bromobenzene substrates in batch mode, which can be attributed to stabilization of Pd nanoparticles by the thiol and amino groups on the AC supports. However, significant dehalogenation in the reaction mixture and Pd leaching from the heterogeneous catalysts were observed in continuous-flow mode.This unique phenomenon in continuous-flow mode resulted in a dramatic decline in reaction selectivity and durability of heterogeneous catalysts comparing with that of batch mode. In addition, the heterogeneous Pd catalysts with thiol-and amino-modified AC supports exhibited different reactivity and durability in batch and continuous-flow mode owing to the difference of interaction between Pd species and AC supports.

Preparation of sodium alginate gel microspheres catalysts and its high catalytic performance for treatment of ciprofloxacin wastewater

The discharge of the antibiotic wastewater has increased dramatically in our country with the development of medical science and wide application of antibiotic,resulting in serious harm to human body and ecological environment.In this work,ciprofloxacin(CIP)was selected as one of typical antibiotics and heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts were prepared for the treatment of ciprofloxacin wastewater.The sodium alginate(SA)gel microspheres catalysts were prepared by polymerization method using double metal ions of Fe^(3+)and Mn^(2+)as cross-linking agents.Preparation conditions such as metal ions concentration,mass fraction of SA,polymerization temperature and dual-metal ions as crosslinking agent were optimized.Moreover,the effects of operating conditions such as initial concentration of CIP,pH value and catalyst dosage on CIP removal were studied.The kinetic equation showed that the effect of the initial concentration of CIP on the degradation rate was in line with second-order kinetics,and the effects of catalyst dosage and pH value on the degradation rate of CIP were in line with first-order kinetics.The SA gel microspheres catalysts prepared by dual-metal ions exhibited a high CIP removal and showed a good reusability after six recycles.The SA gel microspheres catalysts with an easy recovery performance provided an economical and efficient method for the removal of antibiotics in the future.

Propylene Polymerization Catalysts with Sulfonyl Amines as Internal Electron Donors

Three sulfonyl aliphatic amines [（R2SO2）2NR1, viz.： compound 1, in which RI=Me, and R2=Ph; compound 2, in which R1=n-Bu, and R2=CF3; and compound 3, in which RI=C8H17, and R2=CF3], have been synthesized and employed as internal electron donors （IED） for the preparation of Ziegler-Natta catalysts for the polymerization of propylene. The contents of Ti, H and C in these catalysts have been determined by elemental analysis and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The effect of the structure and dosage of the electron donor, the A1/Ti ratio and the polymerization temperature on the catalyst performance has been studied. Under optimized conditions, the catalyst with a highest activity yielded polypropylene with high isotacticity in the absence of external electron donors.

EFFECT OF ELECTRON DONORS ON THE SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF DIENE TO MONOENE OVER HETEROGENIZED Pd CATALYST

In the selective hydrogenation of diene (or alkyne) using heterogenized homogeneous catalyst, the high selectivity of monoene formation only appears in a very short time interval. The addition of suitable electron donors can decrease or even cease the monoene hydrogenation and thereby keep the high monoene selectivity after reaching its maximum.

Enantioselective Hydrogenation of β-keto Esters Using Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysts, a Case Study for Comparison of Different Catalytic Methodologies

The asymmetric reduction of β-keto esters to their corresponding hydroxy alcohols can be performed by employing homogeneous and heterogeneous chemo- and bio-catalysis. This review covers the scope and limitations of different catalysts and methodologies that were employed for the reaction and compare between them on the basis of catalytic performance, product separation and catalyst recycling procedure. In general, heterogeneous catalytic systems are advantageous from industrial point of views as they can be easily separated by filtration and re-used. Nickel modified with tartaric acid and sodium bromide was found to be suitable heterogeneous catalyst for the enantioselective hydrogenation, yet its performance is lower than this of homogeneous chiral metal catalysts such as Ru-BINAP. Heterogenization of the chiral complex via immobilization or entrapment using organic and inorganic supports was thus tested. However, though the resulted heterogeneous analogues were highly enantioselective and could be re-used, the activity of the system is often very low compared to homogeneous system due to mass transfer limitations. Alternatively, performing liquid phase hydrogenation under homogeneous conditions, using Ru-BINAP soluble derivatives, yielded high activit5＇ and enantioselectivity. Product separation and catalysts recycling were facilitated by either extraction of the product with solvent that does not dissolve the complex or by selective filtration of the product. Alternatively, precipitation of the complex at the end of the reaction was also reported.

Activity and Selectivity of Bimetallic Catalysts Based on SBA-15 for Nitrate Reduction in Water

Nitrate from the application of nitrogen-based fertilizers in intensive agriculture is a notorious waste product, though it lacks cost-effective solutions for its removal from potential drinking water resources. Catalytic reduction appears to be a promising technique for converting nitrates to benign nitrogen gas. Mesoporous silica SBA-15 is a frequently used catalyst support that has large surface areas and highly ordered nanopores. In this work, mesoporous silica SBA-15 bimetallic catalysts for nitrate reduction were investigated. The catalyst was optimized for the selection of promoter metal (Sn and Cu), noble metal (Pd and Pt) and loading ratios of these metals at different temperatures and reduction conditions. The catalysts prepared were characterized by FT-IR, N2 physisorption, XRD, SEM, and ICP. All catalysts showed the presence of cylindrical mesoporous channels and uniform pore structures that remained even after metals loading. In the presence of a CO2 buffer, the catalysts 4Pd-1Cu/SBA-15 and 1Pt-1Cu/SBA-15 reduced at 100?C under H2 and 1Pd-1Cu/SBA-15 reduced at 200°C under H2 demonstrated very high nitrate conversion. Furthermore, the forementioned Pd catalysts had higher N2 selectivity (88% - 87%) compared to Pt catalyst (80%). Nitrate conversion by the 4Pd-1Cu/SBA-15 catalyst was significantly decreased to 81% in the absence of CO2.