Direct conversion of furfural to 1,5-pentanediol over a nickel-cobalt oxide-alumina trimetallic catalyst

The use of a Ni-CoOx-Al2O3 mixed metal-metal oxide catalyst was proposed for the one-pot direct conversion of furfural (FFA) to 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO), which afforded a high yield (47.5%) at 160 degrees C and at an initial H-2 pressure of 3 MPa for 6 h in ethanol. Proximity between the Ni-0 and oxygen-vacant CoOx (O-v-CoOx) sites favored the dissociative adsorption of H-2 molecules on Ni-0 and subsequent hydrogen spillover to O-v-CoOx. The hydrogenation of the CO group of FFA produced furfuryl alcohol, which was then adsorbed on the Co delta+ center of the O-v-CoOx site in a eta(1)-(O)-alcoholic configuration, where subsequent C-O bond cleavage produced 1,5-PDO. Catalytic activity loss through the oxidation of the Ni-0 and O-v sites could be mitigated by reactivation under H-2. Thus, the developed Ni-CoOx-Al2O3 catalyst has potential for efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly 1,5-PDO production from FFA

One-pot, cascade conversion of cellulose to ??-valerolactone over a multifunctional Ru-Cu/zeolite-Y catalyst in supercritical methanol

A one-pot cascade conversion of cellulose to GVL was investigated over bimetallic Ru-Cu deposited on a zeolite Y (Ru-Cu/Z) catalyst. Under supercritical methanol conditions, high-yield (49.8%) cascade conversion of cellulose to GVL was achieved at 250 ?, with an initial H2 pressure of 3.0 MPa and reaction time of 5 h. The Ru-Cu/Z catalyst was synthesized using activated reductive deposition (ARD), which resulted in the selective deposition of Cu nanodomains on Ru nanoparticles, thereby facilitating the dissociative adsorption of H-2. In addition, Lewis and Bronsted acid sites of Cu-doped zeolite Y effectively proceeded to cascade conversion reactions, including alcoholysis, isomerization, dehydration, and acetalization reactions, suppressing humin formation. The bimetallic Ru-Cu/Z catalyst was used in six consecutive runs, with a marginal loss of activity. The structure-performance relationships of the Ru-Cu/Z catalysts synthesized using ARD, incipient wet impregnation, and reduction deposition methods were compared

Efficacies of Novel Gemini Compounds Derived from Dibasic Acids as Multifunctional Additives for Tribological Applications

A series of new gemini compounds derived from the reaction of dibasic acids with <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-diethyl-2-aminoethanol followed by reaction with <i>p</i>-toluene sulfonic acid were synthesized and characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance technique (¹H NMR), and mass spectral analyses. The synthesized compounds were used as multifunctional additives, particularly as antiwear agents, as friction reducing agents, and as corrosion inhibitors for tribological applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of gemini compounds in tribological applications

Synthesis of Monocarboxylic Acids via Direct CO2 Conversion over Ni-Zn Intermetallic Catalysts

The direct conversion of CO2 to methane, gasoline-to-diesel range fuels, methanol, and light olefins using sustainable hydrogen sources is considered a promising approach for mitigating global warming. Nevertheless, the direct conversion of CO2 to high value-added chemicals, such as acetic acid and propionic acid (AA and PA, respectively), has not been explored to date. Herein, we report a Ni-Zn intermetallic/Zn-rich NixZnyO catalyst that directly converted CO2 to AA and PA with an overall selectivity of 77.1% at a CO2 conversion of 13.4% at 325 degrees C. The surface restructuring of the ZnO and NiO phases during calcination and subsequent reduction led to the formation of a Ni-Zn intermetallic on the Zn-rich NixZnyO phase. Surface-adsorbed (*CHx)(n) species were formed via the reverse water gas shift reaction and subsequent CO hydrogenation. Afterward, monocarboxylic acids were produced via the direct insertion of CO2 into the (*CHx)(n) species and subsequent hydrogenation. The synthesis of monocarboxylic acid was highly stable up to 216 h on-stream over the Ni-Zn intermetallic catalyst, and the catalyst maintained its phase structure and morphology during long-term CO2 hydrogenation. The high selectivity toward monocarboxylic acids and high stability of the Ni-Zn intermetallic demonstrated its high potential for the conversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals