Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation
In the present research, we report on an innovative and quick procedure for the synthesis of metal oxides: a sol-gel procedure which is followed by two steps that are assisted by microwaves (MW) heating. First, MW heating promotes gel drying and successively permits the calcination of the xerogel in...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/7/1094 |
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| author | Alessia Giordana Cristina Pizzolitto Elena Ghedini Michela Signoretto Lorenza Operti Giuseppina Cerrato |
| author_facet | Alessia Giordana Cristina Pizzolitto Elena Ghedini Michela Signoretto Lorenza Operti Giuseppina Cerrato |
| author_sort | Alessia Giordana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present research, we report on an innovative and quick procedure for the synthesis of metal oxides: a sol-gel procedure which is followed by two steps that are assisted by microwaves (MW) heating. First, MW heating promotes gel drying and successively permits the calcination of the xerogel in a few minutes, using a susceptor that rapidly reaches high temperatures. The procedure was employed for the synthesis of zirconium dioxide (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), and MW-assisted calcination enables the collection of tetragonal ZrO<sub>2</sub>, as confirmed by different experimental techniques (PXRD, HR-TEM and Raman spectroscopy). Using this MW-assisted sol-gel procedure, a promoted sulphated zirconia (SZ) has been obtained. Both the nature and strength of SZ surface acidity have been investigated with FTIR spectroscopy using CO and 2,6-dimethylpyridine (2,6-DMP) as probe molecules. The obtained materials were tested as catalysts in acid hydrolysis of glucose to give 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF). One of the obtained catalysts exhibited a better selectivity towards 5-HMF with respect to SZ material prepared by a classical precipitation route, suggesting that this procedure could be employed to obtain a well-known catalyst with a less energy-consuming procedure. Catalytic results also suggest that good selectivity to 5-HMF can be achieved in aqueous media in the presence of weak Lewis and Brønsted sites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:13:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c88cf4d249804afd97edfaa3ed209a76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:13:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Catalysts |
| spelling | doaj.art-c88cf4d249804afd97edfaa3ed209a762023-11-18T18:44:39ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442023-07-01137109410.3390/catal13071094Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass ValorisationAlessia Giordana0Cristina Pizzolitto1Elena Ghedini2Michela Signoretto3Lorenza Operti4Giuseppina Cerrato5Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, 10125 Torino, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università “Ca’ Foscari” Venezia, 30172 Venezia, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università “Ca’ Foscari” Venezia, 30172 Venezia, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università “Ca’ Foscari” Venezia, 30172 Venezia, ItalyDipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, 10125 Torino, ItalyDipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, 10125 Torino, ItalyIn the present research, we report on an innovative and quick procedure for the synthesis of metal oxides: a sol-gel procedure which is followed by two steps that are assisted by microwaves (MW) heating. First, MW heating promotes gel drying and successively permits the calcination of the xerogel in a few minutes, using a susceptor that rapidly reaches high temperatures. The procedure was employed for the synthesis of zirconium dioxide (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), and MW-assisted calcination enables the collection of tetragonal ZrO<sub>2</sub>, as confirmed by different experimental techniques (PXRD, HR-TEM and Raman spectroscopy). Using this MW-assisted sol-gel procedure, a promoted sulphated zirconia (SZ) has been obtained. Both the nature and strength of SZ surface acidity have been investigated with FTIR spectroscopy using CO and 2,6-dimethylpyridine (2,6-DMP) as probe molecules. The obtained materials were tested as catalysts in acid hydrolysis of glucose to give 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF). One of the obtained catalysts exhibited a better selectivity towards 5-HMF with respect to SZ material prepared by a classical precipitation route, suggesting that this procedure could be employed to obtain a well-known catalyst with a less energy-consuming procedure. Catalytic results also suggest that good selectivity to 5-HMF can be achieved in aqueous media in the presence of weak Lewis and Brønsted sites.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/7/1094HMFsolid acid catalystbiomass valorizationLewis/Brønsted aciditysulphated zirconiaMW synthesis |
| spellingShingle | Alessia Giordana Cristina Pizzolitto Elena Ghedini Michela Signoretto Lorenza Operti Giuseppina Cerrato Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation Catalysts HMF solid acid catalyst biomass valorization Lewis/Brønsted acidity sulphated zirconia MW synthesis |
| title | Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation |
| title_full | Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation |
| title_fullStr | Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation |
| title_short | Innovative Synthetic Approaches for Sulphate-Promoted Catalysts for Biomass Valorisation |
| title_sort | innovative synthetic approaches for sulphate promoted catalysts for biomass valorisation |
| topic | HMF solid acid catalyst biomass valorization Lewis/Brønsted acidity sulphated zirconia MW synthesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/7/1094 |
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