Published in

Royal Society of Chemistry, Journal of Materials Chemistry A: materials for energy and sustainability, 30(2), p. 11813-11824

DOI: 10.1039/c4ta02320j

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Solid acids with SO3H groups and tunable surface properties: versatile catalysts for biomass conversion

Journal article published in 2014 by P. A. Russo ORCID, M. M. Antunes ORCID, P. Neves ORCID, P. V. Wiper, E. Fazio, F. Neri, F. Barreca, L. Mafra, M. Pillinger, N. Pinna ORCID, A. A. Valente
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Upload
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Policy details
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Acid catalysis plays an important role in biomass conversion processes for producing chemicals and fuels. We report a relatively simple procedure for synthesizing versatile, strong acid catalysts based on carbon and carbon–silica composites with sulfonic acid groups. The process involves chemical activation of a sulfonic acid organic precursor at low temperature. The synthesis conditions can be modified to tune the surface composition, texture, and the acid properties of the materials towards superior catalytic performances. Molecular level insights into the nature and strength of the acid sites were gained by combining high resolution XPS and 1H-decoupled 31P MAS NMR spectroscopy of adsorbed triethylphosphine oxide. These materials are effective acid catalysts for the conversion of different biomass-derived chemicals to useful bio products such as furanic ethers and levulinate esters.