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2 pages, 164 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis

by Helder Gomes and Joaquim Faria

Catalysts 2020, 10(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10030341 - 19 Mar 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1858

Abstract

Following biennial meetings held since 1968, the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis Societies (FISoCat), the Portuguese Chemical Society (SPQ) and the University of Coimbra jointly organized the XXVI Iberoamerican Congress on Catalysis (CICat 2018), which took place in the historic city of Coimbra, Portugal, [...] Read more.

Following biennial meetings held since 1968, the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis Societies (FISoCat), the Portuguese Chemical Society (SPQ) and the University of Coimbra jointly organized the XXVI Iberoamerican Congress on Catalysis (CICat 2018), which took place in the historic city of Coimbra, Portugal, between the 9th and 14th of September 2018 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

Research

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22 pages, 5198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Ag Nanoparticles Interaction over Low-Cost Mesoporous Silica in Deep Desulfurization of Diesel

by Rafael V. Sales, Heloise O. M. A. Moura, Anne B. F. Câmara, Enrique Rodríguez-Castellón, José A. B. Silva, Sibele B. C. Pergher, Leila M. A. Campos, Maritza M. Urbina, Tatiana C. Bicudo and Luciene S. de Carvalho

Catalysts 2019, 9(8), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9080651 - 30 Jul 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3537

Abstract

Chemical interactions between metal particles (Ag or Ni) dispersed in a low-cost MCM-41^M produced from beach sand amorphous silica and sulfur compounds were evaluated in the deep adsorptive desulfurization process of real diesel fuel. N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray [...] Read more.

Chemical interactions between metal particles (Ag or Ni) dispersed in a low-cost MCM-41^M produced from beach sand amorphous silica and sulfur compounds were evaluated in the deep adsorptive desulfurization process of real diesel fuel. N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX) were used for characterizing the adsorbents. HRTEM and XPS confirmed the high dispersion of Ag nanoparticles on the MCM-41 surface, and its chemical interaction with support and sulfur compounds by diverse mechanisms such as π-complexation and oxidation. Thermodynamic tests indicated that the adsorption of sulfur compounds over Ag(I)/MCM-41^M is an endothermic process under the studied conditions. The magnitude of ΔH° (42.1 kJ/mol) indicates that chemisorptive mechanisms govern the sulfur removal. The best fit of kinetic and equilibrium data to pseudo-second order (R² > 0.99) and Langmuir models (R² > 0.98), respectively, along with the results for intraparticle diffusion and Boyd’s film-diffusion kinetic models, suggest that the chemisorptive interaction between organosulfur compounds and Ag nanosites controls sulfur adsorption, as seen in the XPS results. Its adsorption capacity (q_m = 31.25 mgS/g) was 10 times higher than that obtained for pure MCM-41^M and double the q_m for the Ag(I)/MCM-41^C adsorbent from commercial silica. Saturated adsorbents presented a satisfactory regeneration rate after a total of five sulfur adsorption cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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21 pages, 5694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Metal Loading in Unpromoted and Promoted CoMo/Al₂O₃–TiO₂ Catalysts for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Phenol

by J. Andrés Tavizón-Pozos, Carlos E. Santolalla-Vargas, Omar U. Valdés-Martínez and José Antonio de los Reyes Heredia

Catalysts 2019, 9(6), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9060550 - 19 Jun 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4469

Abstract

This paper reports the effects of changes in the supported active phase concentration over titania containing mixed oxides catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Mo and CoMo supported on sol–gel Al₂O₃–TiO₂ (Al/Ti = 2) were synthetized and tested for the [...] Read more.

This paper reports the effects of changes in the supported active phase concentration over titania containing mixed oxides catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Mo and CoMo supported on sol–gel Al₂O₃–TiO₂ (Al/Ti = 2) were synthetized and tested for the HDO of phenol in a batch reactor at 5.5 MPa, 593 K, and 100 ppm S. Characterization results showed that the increase in Mo loading led to an increase in the amount of oxide Mo species with octahedral coordination (Mo^Oh), which produced more active sites and augmented the catalytic activity. The study of the change of Co concentration allowed prototypes of the oxide species and their relationship with the CoMo/AT2 activity to be described. Catalysts were tested at four different Co/(Co + Mo) ratios. The results presented a correlation between the available fraction of Co^Oh and the catalytic performance. At low Co^Oh fractions (Co/(Co + Mo) = 0.1), Co could not promote all MoS₂ slabs and metallic sites from this latter phase performed the reaction. Also, at high Co/(Co + Mo) ratios (0.3 and 0.4), there was a loss of Co species. The Co/(Co + Mo) = 0.2 ratio presented an optimum amount of available Co^Oh and catalytic activity since the XPS results indicated a higher concentration of the CoMoS phase than at a higher ratio. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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20 pages, 5837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol by MgO–MgFe₂O₄ Derived from Layered Double Hydroxide Structures

by Esthela Ramos-Ramírez, Francisco Tzompantzi-Morales, Norma Gutiérrez-Ortega, Héctor G. Mojica-Calvillo and Julio Castillo-Rodríguez

Catalysts 2019, 9(5), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9050454 - 17 May 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4274

Abstract

In recent years, the search for solutions for the treatment of water pollution by toxic compounds such as phenols and chlorophenols has been increasing. Phenols and their derivatives are widely used in the manufacture of pesticides, insecticides, paper, and wood preservers, among other [...] Read more.

In recent years, the search for solutions for the treatment of water pollution by toxic compounds such as phenols and chlorophenols has been increasing. Phenols and their derivatives are widely used in the manufacture of pesticides, insecticides, paper, and wood preservers, among other things. Chlorophenols are partially biodegradable but not directly photodegradable by sunlight and are extremely toxic—especially 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, which is considered to be potentially carcinogenic. As a viable proposal to be applied in the treatment of water contaminated with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, this paper presents an application study of the thermally activated Mg/Fe layered double hydroxides as photocatalysts for the mineralization of this contaminant. Activated Mg/Fe layered double hydroxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, N₂ physisorption, and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray dispersive energy. The results of the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in aqueous solution showed good photocatalytic activity, with an efficiency of degradation of up to 93% and mineralization of 82%; degradation values which are higher than that of TiO₂-P25, which only reached 18% degradation. The degradation capacity is attributed to the structure of the MgO–MgFe₂O₄ oxides derived from double laminate hydroxide Mg/Fe. A path of degradation based on a mechanism of superoxide and hollow radicals is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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13 pages, 2375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis of Dodecanoic Acid on SAPO-5 and Al-MCM-41 Catalysts

by Carolina Freitas, Marizania Pereira, Damari Souza, Noyala Fonseca, Emerson Sales, Roger Frety, Camila Felix, Aroldo Azevedo, Jr. and Soraia Brandao

Catalysts 2019, 9(5), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9050418 - 3 May 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3481

Abstract

In this study, dodecanoic acid was decomposed during fast pyrolysis experiments either thermally or in the presence of SAPO-5 and Al-MCM-41catalysts. The catalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal route and subsequently characterized by XRD, TPD-NH₃, and TGA, and dodecanoic acid was [...] Read more.

In this study, dodecanoic acid was decomposed during fast pyrolysis experiments either thermally or in the presence of SAPO-5 and Al-MCM-41catalysts. The catalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal route and subsequently characterized by XRD, TPD-NH₃, and TGA, and dodecanoic acid was characterized by TGA and DSC. Analysis of the post-pyrolysis products was performed online by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results from pyrolysis at 650 °C indicated that the nature of the catalysts strongly influences the composition of the products. Linear alkenes were standard products for all pyrolysis experiments, but with Al-MCM-41, various alkene isomers with a linear and cyclic structure formed, as well as saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. As a whole, Al-MCM-41 led to a much higher dodecanoic acid conversion and higher deoxygenation than SAPO-5. As these catalysts present small differences in strong acid site density, the difference in the global conversion of dodecanoic acid could be attributed to textural characteristics such as pore volume and surface area. In this case, the textural properties of the SAPO-5 are much lower when compared to Al-MCM-41 and, due to a lower accessibility of the reactant molecule to the acidic sites of SAPO-5, partially blocked for fatty acid molecules by the considerable amount of amorphous material, as detected by XRD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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17 pages, 5020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Co/Fe-Mixed Oxides as Heterogeneous Catalysts in Obtaining Biodiesel

by Norma Gutiérrez-Ortega, Esthela Ramos-Ramírez, Alma Serafín-Muñoz, Adrián Zamorategui-Molina and Jesús Monjaraz-Vallejo

Catalysts 2019, 9(5), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9050403 - 29 Apr 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3552

Abstract

Catalyst-type mixed metal oxides with different compositions and Co/Fe ratios were obtained from layered double hydroxides to be used as heterogeneous catalysts in the production of biodiesel. The effect of the Co/Fe ratio on the precursors of the catalysts was analyzed, considering their [...] Read more.

Catalyst-type mixed metal oxides with different compositions and Co/Fe ratios were obtained from layered double hydroxides to be used as heterogeneous catalysts in the production of biodiesel. The effect of the Co/Fe ratio on the precursors of the catalysts was analyzed, considering their thermal, textural and structural properties. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were determined by thermogravimetric analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric), X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and N₂-physisorption. The conversion to biodiesel using the different catalysts obtained was determined by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy and ¹H-Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, allowing us to correlate the effect of the catalyst composition with the catalytic capacity. The conditions for obtaining biodiesel were optimized by selecting the catalyst and varying the percentage of catalyst, the methanol/oil ratio and the reaction time. The catalysts reached yields of conversion to biodiesel of up to 96% in 20 min of reaction using only 2% catalyst. The catalyst that showed the best catalytic activity contains a mixture of predominant crystalline and amorphous phases of CoFe₂O₄ and Na_xCoO₂. The results suggest that cobalt is a determinant in the activity of the catalyst when forming active sites in the crystalline network of mixed oxides for the transesterification of triglycerides, with high conversion capacity and selectivity to biodiesel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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14 pages, 1858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Etherification of Glycerol with Tert-Butyl Alcohol by the Addition of Dibutyl Ether as Solvent

by Carmen M. Dominguez, Arturo Romero and Aurora Santos

Catalysts 2019, 9(4), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9040378 - 23 Apr 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4865

Abstract

The etherification of glycerol with tert-butyl alcohol in the presence of acid catalysts gives rise to the production of ethers (monoethers, diethers and triethers) of high added-value, which can be used as oxygenated additives in fuels. This reaction is limited by the [...] Read more.

The etherification of glycerol with tert-butyl alcohol in the presence of acid catalysts gives rise to the production of ethers (monoethers, diethers and triethers) of high added-value, which can be used as oxygenated additives in fuels. This reaction is limited by the thermodynamic equilibrium, which can be modified by the addition of solvents that selectively solubilize the products of interest along with tert-butyl alcohol, leading to the progress of the reaction. In this work, it has been demonstrated that the addition of dibutyl ether allows shifting the reaction equilibrium, increasing the production of diethers. From the study of the main operating conditions, it was determined that an increase in the concentration of the solvent has a positive effect on the selectivity towards the production of diethers, the concentration of the catalyst (a commercial ion exchange resin, Amberlyst 15, named A-15) and the reaction temperature were also determining variables. Working with concentrations of tert-butyl alcohol above the stoichiometric one did not report great advantages. The optimal operating conditions to maximize the conversion of glycerol and the selectivity towards diethers were: 70 °C, 20% catalyst (referred to the total starting mass of the system), the stoichiometric ratio of glycerol:tert-butyl alcohol (G:TB = 1:3) and 1:2 molar ratio of dibutyl ether:tert-butyl alcohol. A study of three consecutive reaction cycles showed the high stability of the catalyst, obtaining identical results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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29 pages, 10708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cerium Precursor in the Synthesis of Ce-MCM-41 and in the Efficiency for Liquid-Phase Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

by Carlos M. Aiube, Karolyne V. de Oliveira and Julio L. de Macedo

Catalysts 2019, 9(4), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9040377 - 23 Apr 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4515

Abstract

Understanding the effects of synthetic parameters in the catalytic activity of heterogeneous catalysts is of utmost importance when aiming for optimal reaction conditions. Hence, we disclose in this work the synthesis and characterization of cerium-modified MCM-41 materials. In addition, it was observed for [...] Read more.

Understanding the effects of synthetic parameters in the catalytic activity of heterogeneous catalysts is of utmost importance when aiming for optimal reaction conditions. Hence, we disclose in this work the synthesis and characterization of cerium-modified MCM-41 materials. In addition, it was observed for the first time, differences in catalytic activity when using different cerium synthetic precursors: CeCl₃·7H₂O and Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O (Ce-MCM-Cl and Ce-MCM-NO₃, respectively). A mechanism for cerium incorporation in MCM-41 was proposed, where [Ce(OH)₃] species were hydrogen bonded to silicate anions, forming framework Ce-O-Si bonds during condensation and, consequently, causing distortion of the typical hexagonal mesophase. It was also observed that Ce(OH)₃ formed aggregated layers with template assemblies during synthesis, resulting in non-framework CeO₂ species on the MCM-41 surface after calcination. These CeO₂ species were preferentially formed for Ce-MCM-NO₃ and were attributed to the nitrate ions’ strong binding to template molecules. In the solvent free liquid-phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH), Ce-MCM-Cl achieved better BzOH conversions and benzaldehyde (BzD) yields, while Ce-MCM-NO₃ offered increased BzD selectivity. The catalysts’ reusability was also studied over three catalytic runs, where Ce-MCM-NO₃ was more resistant than Ce-MCM-Cl towards deactivation. The observed catalytic behavior shows the importance of metal precursors in the obtainment of materials with desirable final properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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20 pages, 3188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dibenzothiophene Hydrodesulfurization over P-CoMo on Sol-Gel Alumina Modified by La Addition. Effect of Rare-Earth Content

by José Escobar, María C. Barrera, Jaime S. Valente, Dora A. Solís-Casados, Víctor Santes, José E. Terrazas and Benoit A.R. Fouconnier

Catalysts 2019, 9(4), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9040359 - 13 Apr 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3890

Abstract

Alumina-lanthana (La at 1, 3, or 5 wt%) supports were prepared by sol-gel from Al alkoxide sol where La(NO₃)₃ was added. Annealed (550 °C) xerogels were characterized by N₂ physisorption, thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy- [...] Read more.

Alumina-lanthana (La at 1, 3, or 5 wt%) supports were prepared by sol-gel from Al alkoxide sol where La(NO₃)₃ was added. Annealed (550 °C) xerogels were characterized by N₂ physisorption, thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), CO₂-adsorption studied in IR region, Raman and ultraviolet-vis (UV-vis) spectroscopies. The texture of amorphous binary matrices of high La dispersion was adequate to applications in catalysts for middle distillates hydrodesulfurization (HDS). Generally, the amount and strength of surface basic sites increased with La content in solids. Mo (at 2.8 at. nm⁻²) and Co (at Co/(Co+Mo) = 0.3) were deposited over carriers by one-pot simultaneous impregnation in the presence of PO₄³⁻ (P₂O₅/(NiO+MoO₃) = 0.2 mass ratio). Calcined (400 °C) Co-Mo-P impregnated precursors had decreased basicity as to that of corresponding carriers, suggesting strong La-deposited species interaction. As La content in carriers increased Mo=O Raman stretching vibrations shifted to lower wave-numbers (949 to 935 cm⁻¹) suggesting octahedral molybdates coordination change to tetrahedral. Although La at the lowest concentration (1 wt%) enhanced dibenzothiophene, HDS (~38% higher as to the Al₂O₃-supported formulation) desulfurization was significantly diminished at augmented content. Presence of hardly sulfidable tetrahedral Mo originated during impregnation at basic conditions in pores of La-modified carriers seemed to dictate observed behavior. Rare earth content in formulations enhanced selectivity to biphenyl. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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18 pages, 6823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Design and Optimization of Triclosan and 2.8-Diclorodibenzeno-p-dioxina Degradation by the Fe/Nb₂O₅/UV System

by Michel Z. Fidelis, Eduardo Abreu, Onélia A. A. Dos Santos, Eduardo S. Chaves, Rodrigo Brackmann, Daniele T. Dias and Giane G. Lenzi

Catalysts 2019, 9(4), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9040343 - 8 Apr 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3362

Abstract

This study describes the experimental design and optimization of the photocatalytic reaction using the immobilized catalyst Fe/Nb₂O₅ in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-DCDD. The techniques employed to characterize the photocatalysts were: specific surface area, average pore volume, average pore [...] Read more.

This study describes the experimental design and optimization of the photocatalytic reaction using the immobilized catalyst Fe/Nb₂O₅ in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-DCDD. The techniques employed to characterize the photocatalysts were: specific surface area, average pore volume, average pore diameter, photo-acoustic spectroscopy (PAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS). The reaction parameters studied were pH, catalyst concentration, catalyst calcination temperature, and nominal metallic charge. The results indicated that the immobilized Fe/Nb₂O₅ catalysts were efficient in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-dichlorodibenzene-p-dioxin. The catalysts with nominal metal loading of 1.5% Fe calcined at 873 K showed the highest constant reaction rate and the lowest half-life 0.069 min⁻¹ and 10.04 min. Tests in different matrices indicated that the photocatalytic reaction using aqueous solution containing Cl⁻ is faster when compared with the ultrapure water matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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12 pages, 5316 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Layered Double Hydroxides as Bifunctional Catalysts for the Aryl Borylation under Ligand-Free Conditions

by Lorenna C. L. L. F. Silva, Vinícius A. Neves, Vitor S. Ramos, Raphael S. F. Silva, José B. de Campos, Alexsandro A. da Silva, Luiz F. B. Malta and Jaqueline D. Senra

Catalysts 2019, 9(4), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9040302 - 27 Mar 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4049

Abstract

Organic derivatives of boron, such as boronic esters and acids, are important precursors for a wide range of environmental, energy, and health applications. Several catalytic methods for their synthesis have been reported, even though with the use of toxic and structurally complex ligands. [...] Read more.

Organic derivatives of boron, such as boronic esters and acids, are important precursors for a wide range of environmental, energy, and health applications. Several catalytic methods for their synthesis have been reported, even though with the use of toxic and structurally complex ligands. Herein, we demonstrate preliminary studies envisaging the synthesis of boronic esters from an inexpensive catalytic system based on Cu/Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) in the presence of Na₂PdCl₄. The Cu/ Al LDHs were prepared according to coprecipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) (with Rietveld refinement) to evaluate the contamination with malachite and other phases. Preliminary catalytic results suggest that pure Cu/Al LDH has potential for the borylation of aryl iodides/ bromides in the absence of base. Indeed, a synergic effect between copper and palladium is possibly related to the catalytic efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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19 pages, 3783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zirconia-Supported Silver Nanoparticles for the Catalytic Combustion of Pollutants Originating from Mobile Sources

by Maia Montaña, María S. Leguizamón Aparicio, Marco A. Ocsachoque, Marisa B. Navas, Ivoneide de C. L. Barros, Enrique Rodriguez-Castellón, Mónica L. Casella and Ileana D. Lick

Catalysts 2019, 9(3), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9030297 - 25 Mar 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3961

Abstract

This work presents the physicochemical characterization and activity of zirconia-supported silver catalysts for the oxidation of pollutants present in diesel engine exhaust (propane, propene, naphthalene and soot). A series of silver-supported catalysts AgxZ (x = 1, 5 and 10 wt.%, Z = zirconia) [...] Read more.

This work presents the physicochemical characterization and activity of zirconia-supported silver catalysts for the oxidation of pollutants present in diesel engine exhaust (propane, propene, naphthalene and soot). A series of silver-supported catalysts AgxZ (x = 1, 5 and 10 wt.%, Z = zirconia) were prepared, which were studied by various characterization techniques. The results show that silver is mainly found under the form of small metal nanoparticles (<10 nm) dispersed over the support. The metallic phase coexists with the AgO_x oxidic phases. Silver is introduced onto the zirconia, generating Ag–ZrO₂ catalysts with high activity for the oxidation of propene and naphthalene. These catalysts also show some activity for soot combustion. Silver species can contribute with zirconia in the catalytic redox cycle, through a synergistic effect, providing sites that facilitate the migration and availability of oxygen, which is favored by the presence of structural defects. This is a novel application of the AgO_x–Ag/ZrO₂ system in the combustion reaction of propene and naphthalene. The results are highly promising, given that the T50 values found for both model molecules are quite low. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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15 pages, 2732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biodiesel Production (FAEEs) by Heterogeneous Combi-Lipase Biocatalysts Using Wet Extracted Lipids from Microalgae

by Alejandra Sánchez-Bayo, Victoria Morales, Rosalía Rodríguez, Gemma Vicente and Luis Fernando Bautista

Catalysts 2019, 9(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9030296 - 25 Mar 2019

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4769

Abstract

The production of fatty acids ethyl esters (FAEEs) to be used as biodiesel from oleaginous microalgae shows great opportunities as an attractive source for the production of renewable fuels without competing with human food. To ensure the economic viability and environmental sustainability of [...] Read more.

The production of fatty acids ethyl esters (FAEEs) to be used as biodiesel from oleaginous microalgae shows great opportunities as an attractive source for the production of renewable fuels without competing with human food. To ensure the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the microbial biomass as a raw material, the integration of its production and transformation into the biorefinery concept is required. In the present work, lipids from wet Isochrysis galbana microalga were extracted with ethyl acetate with and without drying the microalgal biomass (dry and wet extraction method, respectively). Then, FAEEs were produced by lipase-catalyzed transesterification and esterification of the extracted lipids with ethanol using lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) and Pseudomonas cepacia (PC) lipase supported on SBA-15 mesoporous silica functionalized with amino groups. The conversion to FAEEs with CALB (97 and 85.5 mol% for dry and wet extraction, respectively) and PC (91 and 87 mol%) biocatalysts reached higher values than those obtained with commercial Novozym 435 (75 and 69.5 mol%). Due to the heterogeneous nature of the composition of microalgae lipids, mixtures with different CALB:PC biocatalyst ratio were used to improve conversion of wet-extracted lipids. The results showed that a 25:75 combi-lipase produced a significantly higher conversion to FAEEs (97.2 mol%) than those produced by each biocatalyst independently from wet-extracted lipids and similar ones than those obtained by each lipase from the dry extraction method. Therefore, that optimized combi-lipase biocatalyst, along with achieving the highest conversion to FAEEs, would allow improving viability of a biorefinery since biodiesel production could be performed without the energy-intensive step of biomass drying. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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12 pages, 1793 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aldol Condensation of Furfural with Acetone Over Mg/Al Mixed Oxides. Influence of Water and Synthesis Method

by Almudena Parejas, Daniel Cosano, Jesús Hidalgo-Carrillo, José Rafael Ruiz, Alberto Marinas, César Jiménez-Sanchidrián and Francisco J. Urbano

Catalysts 2019, 9(2), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9020203 - 23 Feb 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8525

Abstract

Aldol condensation of furfural and acetone (an important initial step to obtain diesel from biomass) was studied over MgAl mixed oxides. The influence of the utilization of microwaves and/or a surfactant (Pluronic 123) during the synthesis as well as the use of water [...] Read more.

Aldol condensation of furfural and acetone (an important initial step to obtain diesel from biomass) was studied over MgAl mixed oxides. The influence of the utilization of microwaves and/or a surfactant (Pluronic 123) during the synthesis as well as the use of water (either pre-hydrating the solids before catalytic studies or in water/toluene mixtures as the reaction medium) is discussed. The combined use of Pluronic 123 and microwaves led to solids with bigger pore sizes, exhibiting lower basicity and higher acidity than the conventional synthetic method, thus resulting in an increase in the yield of the desired product of condensation, comprising two molecules of furfural and one of acetone (F2Ac). As for the influence of water, re-hydration of the mixed oxides was detrimental to activity, probably as a result of the partial blocking (solvation) of active sites. On the contrary, the increase in water percentage in the reaction medium resulted in higher conversions, though selectivity to F2Ac decreased. The weakening of the C=O bond of furfural in the presence of water as well as the higher solubility of the first condensation product (FAc) in toluene, as compared to water, could account for that. A 44.5% yield of F2Ac (66% conversion) after 16 h was obtained with the most active solid, which maintained the activity for three consecutive reactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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21 pages, 3578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, Performance and Emission Quality Assessment of Ecodiesel from Castor Oil in Diesel/Biofuel/Alcohol Triple Blends in a Diesel Engine

by Beatriz Hurtado, Alejandro Posadillo, Diego Luna, Felipa M. Bautista, Jose M. Hidalgo, Carlos Luna, Juan Calero, Antonio A. Romero and Rafael Estevez

Catalysts 2019, 9(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9010040 - 3 Jan 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3946

Abstract

This research aims to promote the use of second-generation biofuels based mainly on Castor oil, which is not adequate for food use, and Sunflower oil as a standard reference for recycled oils. They have been applied in the production of Ecodiesel, a biofuel [...] Read more.

This research aims to promote the use of second-generation biofuels based mainly on Castor oil, which is not adequate for food use, and Sunflower oil as a standard reference for recycled oils. They have been applied in the production of Ecodiesel, a biofuel that integrates glycerol as monoglyceride, employing sodium methoxide as homogeneous catalyst and ethanol as solvent, but operating in milder conditions than in the synthesis of conventional biodiesel in order to obtain a kinetic control of the selective transesterification. The behavior of biofuels has been evaluated in a conventional diesel engine, operating as an electricity generator. The contamination degree was also evaluated from the opacity values of the generated smokes. The different biofuels here studied have practically no differences in the behavior with respect to the power generated, although a small increase in the fuel consumption was obtained in some cases. However, with the biofuels employed, a significant reduction, up to 40%, in the emission of pollutants is obtained, mainly with the blend diesel/castor oil/alcohol. Besides, it is found that pure Castor oil can be employed directly as biofuel in triple blends diesel/biofuel/alcohol, exhibiting results that are very close to those obtained using biodiesel or Ecodiesel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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14 pages, 8756 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A New Tool in the Quest for Biocompatible Phthalocyanines: Palladium Catalyzed Aminocarbonylation for Amide Substituted Phthalonitriles and Illustrative Phthalocyanines Thereof

by Vanessa A. Tomé, Mário J. F. Calvete, Carolina S. Vinagreiro, Rafael T. Aroso and Mariette M. Pereira

Catalysts 2018, 8(10), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal8100480 - 20 Oct 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3941

Abstract

The amide peptide bond type linkage is one of the most natural conjugations available, present in many biological synthons and pharmaceutical drugs. Hence, aiming the direct conjugation of potentially biologically active compounds to phthalocyanines, herein we disclose a new strategy for direct modulation [...] Read more.

The amide peptide bond type linkage is one of the most natural conjugations available, present in many biological synthons and pharmaceutical drugs. Hence, aiming the direct conjugation of potentially biologically active compounds to phthalocyanines, herein we disclose a new strategy for direct modulation of phthalonitriles, inspired by an attractive synthetic strategy for the preparation of carboxamides based on palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl halides in the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) which, to our knowledge, has never been used to prepare amide-substituted phthalonitriles, the natural precursors for the synthesis of phthalocyanines. Some examples of phthalocyanines prepared thereof are also reported, along with their full spectroscopic characterization and photophysical properties initial assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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28 pages, 5284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Regeneration of Nickel-Based Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Beech Wood Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil

by Caroline Carriel Schmitt, María Belén Gagliardi Reolon, Michael Zimmermann, Klaus Raffelt, Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt and Nicolaus Dahmen

Catalysts 2018, 8(10), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal8100449 - 12 Oct 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5362

Abstract

Four nickel-based catalysts are synthesized by wet impregnation and evaluated for the hydrotreatment/hydrodeoxygenation of beech wood fast-pyrolysis bio-oil. Parameters such as elemental analysis, pH value, and water content, as well as the heating value of the upgraded bio-oils are considered for the evaluation [...] Read more.

Four nickel-based catalysts are synthesized by wet impregnation and evaluated for the hydrotreatment/hydrodeoxygenation of beech wood fast-pyrolysis bio-oil. Parameters such as elemental analysis, pH value, and water content, as well as the heating value of the upgraded bio-oils are considered for the evaluation of the catalysts’ activity and catalyst reuse in cycles of hydrodeoxygenation after regeneration. The reduction temperature, selectivity and hydrogen consumption are distinct among them, although all catalysts tested produce upgraded bio-oils with reduced oxygen concentration, lower water content and higher energy density. Ni/SiO₂, in particular, can remove more than 50% of the oxygen content and reduce the water content by more than 80%, with low coke and gas formation. The evaluation over four consecutive hydrotreatment reactions and catalyst regeneration shows a slightly reduced hydrodeoxygenation activity of Ni/SiO₂, mainly due to deactivation caused by sintering and adsorption of poisoning substances, such as sulfur. Following the fourth catalyst reuse, the upgraded bio-oil shows 43% less oxygen in comparison to the feedstock and properties comparable to the upgraded bio-oil obtained with the fresh catalyst. Hence, nickel-based catalysts are promising for improving hardwood fast-pyrolysis bio-oil properties, especially monometallic nickel catalysts supported on silica. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Global Development. Contributions around the Iberoamerican Federation of Catalysis)

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