skip to main content


Title: Aluminum‐based Metal‐Organic Framework as Water‐tolerant Lewis Acid Catalyst for Selective Dihydroxyacetone Isomerization to Lactic Acid
Abstract

Lactic acid is a renewable and versatile chemical for food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other chemicals. Lactic acid can be produced from biomass‐derived dihydroxyacetone. However, selective and recyclable water‐tolerant acid catalysts need to be developed for the specific production of lactic acid. Here we show that the MIL‐101(Al)−NH2metal‐organic framework (MOF) is a water‐tolerant and selective solid Lewis acid catalyst for dihydroxyacetone isomerization to lactic acid. The Lewis acidic MIL‐101(Al)−NH2catalyst promoted a high lactic acid selectivity of 91 % at 96 % dihydroxyacetone conversion at 120 °C in water. The reaction proceeded by temperature and/or MIL‐101(Al)−NH2MOFs mediated dihydroxyacetone dehydration to pyruvaldehyde. Subsequently, the MIL‐101(Al)−NH2facilitated rehydration of the pyruvaldehyde to lactic acid. The Lewis acidic MIL‐101(Al)−NH2catalyst was stable and reusable four times without any decrease in catalytic performance.

 
more » « less
NSF-PAR ID:
10363009
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ChemCatChem
Volume:
14
Issue:
4
ISSN:
1867-3880
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Precious metals have been shown to play a vital role in the selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, but still suffer from challenges to control selectivity. Herein, we have advanced the design of catalysts made out of Pt–Co intermetallic nanoparticles (IMNs) supported on a MIL-101(Cr) MOF (3%Pt y %Co/MIL-101(Cr)), prepared by using a polyol reduction method, as an effective approach to enhance selectivity toward the production of α,β-unsaturated alcohol, the desired product. XRD, N 2 adsorption–desorption, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, XPS, CO adsorption, NH 3 -TPD, XANES and EXAFS measurements were used to investigate the structure and surface properties of our 3%Pt y %Co/MIL-101(Cr) catalysts. It was found that the Co-modified 3%Pt y %Co/MIL-101(Cr) catalysts can indeed improve the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CAL) to cinnamyl alcohol (COL), reaching a higher selectivity under mild conditions than the monometallic Pt/MIL-101(Cr) catalysts: 95% conversion of CAL with 91% selectivity to COL can be reached with 3%Pt3%Co/MIL-101(Cr). Additionally, high conversion of furfural (97%) along with high selectivity to furfural alcohol (94%) was also attained with the 3%Pt3%Co/MIL-101(Cr) catalyst. The enhanced activity and selectivity toward the unsaturated alcohols are attributed to the electronic and geometric effects derived from the partial charge transfer between Co and Pt through the formation of uniformly dispersed Pt–Co IMNs. Moreover, various characterization results revealed that the addition of Co to the IMPs can promote the Lewis acid sites that facilitate the polarization of the charge-rich CO bonds and their adsorption via their oxygen atom, and also generate new interfacial acid sites. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract Practitioner points

    Fixed‐bed columns with DOW‐HFO, DOW‐Cu, or DOW‐HFO‐Cu—can selectively remove phosphorus over competing anions.

    Fixed‐bed columns of above‐listed ion exchangers can produce an effluent P < 6 μg/L.

    DOW‐Cu fixed‐bed column ran for ≈500 Bed Volumes before breakthrough when fed Dartmouth WWTP secondary effluent.

    Regeneration of the exhausted DOW‐Cu column resulted in ≈90% recovery of the phosphorus.

    Regenerant solution was used to generate high‐purity crystals of magnesium ammonium phosphate, MgNH4PO4(struvite), a slow‐release fertilizer.

     
    more » « less
  3. Isostructural Cr and Fe nanoporous MIL-101, synthesized without mineralizing agents, are investigated for styrene oxidation utilizing aqueous hydrogen peroxide to yield valuable oxygenates for chemical synthesis applications. Styrene conversion rates and oxygenate product distributions both depend on metal identity, as MIL-101(Fe) is more reactive for total styrene oxidation and is more pathway selective, preferring aldehyde (benzaldehyde) formation at the α-carbon to the aromatic ring, where MIL-101(Cr) sustains epoxide (styrene oxide) production at the same α-carbon. These pathways often involve hydrogen peroxide derived radical intermediates (O, –HOO˙, –HO − ˙) and metallocycle transition states. We postulate that the higher reactivity of one of these surface intermediates, Fe( iv )O relative to Cr( iv )O, leads to higher styrene oxidation rates for MIL-101(Fe), while higher electrophilicity of Cr( iii )–OOH intermediates translates to the higher styrene oxide selectivity observed for MIL-101(Cr). Secondary styrene oxide and benzaldehyde conversions are observed over both analogs, but the former is more prevalent over MIL-101(Fe) due to higher Lewis/Brønsted acid site density and strength compared to MIL-101(Cr). Recyclability experiments combined with characterization via XRD, SEM/EDXS, and FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopies show that the nature of MIL-101(Fe) sites does not change significantly with each cycle, whereas MIL-101(Cr) suffers from metal leaching, which impacts styrene conversion rates and product distribution. Both catalysts require active site regeneration, though MIL-101(Fe) sites are more susceptible to reactivation, even under mild conditions. Finally, examination of styrene conversion for three unique synthesized phases of MIL-101(Cr) rationalizes that nodal defects are largely responsible for observed reactivity and selectivity but predispose the framework to metal leaching as a predominant deactivation mechanism. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Nitrones are key intermediates in organic synthesis and the pharmaceutical industry. The heterogeneous synthesis of nitrones with multifunctional catalysts is extremely attractive but rarely explored. Herein, we report ultrasmall platinum nanoclusters (PtNCs) encapsulated in amine‐functionalized Zr metal–organic framework (MOF), UiO‐66‐NH2(Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2) as a multifunctional catalyst in the one‐pot tandem synthesis of nitrones. By virtue of the cooperative interplay among the selective hydrogenation activity provided by the ultrasmall PtNCs and Lewis acidity/basicity/nanoconfinement endowed by UiO‐66‐NH2, Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2exhibits remarkable activity and selectivity, in comparison to Pt/carbon, Pt@UiO‐66, and Pd@UiO‐66‐NH2. Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2also outperforms Pt nanoparticles supported on the external surface of the same MOF (Pt/UiO‐66‐NH2). To our knowledge, this work demonstrates the first examples of one‐pot synthesis of nitrones using recyclable multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Hybrid electrodes with improved O2tolerance and capability of CO2conversion into liquid products in the presence of O2are presented. Aniline molecules are introduced into the pore structure of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity to expand its gas separation functionality beyond pure physical sieving. The chemical interaction between the acidic CO2molecule and the basic amino group of aniline renders enhanced CO2separation from O2. Loaded with a cobalt phthalocyanine‐based cathode catalyst, the hybrid electrode achieves a CO Faradaic efficiency of 71 % with 10 % O2in the CO2feed gas. The electrode can still produce CO at an O2/CO2ratio as high as 9:1. Switching to a Sn‐based catalyst, for the first time O2‐tolerant CO2electroreduction to liquid products is realized, generating formate with nearly 100 % selectivity and a current density of 56.7 mA cm−2in the presence of 5 % O2.

     
    more » « less