Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy
First author: Wang Hongliang Corresponding author: Wang Hongliang
Article title: “Phytic acid-assisted phase-controlled synthesis of nickel phosphides for highly selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural”
Impact factor: 20.2
Article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124413
Research background
Using renewable biomass resources to replace fossil resources to produce fuels and chemicals is one of the important ways to achieve sustainable development and the “dual carbon” goal. Hemicellulose-derived furfural (FFA) can be converted into a variety of advanced fuels and high-value-added chemicals through hydrogenation reactions due to its unique chemical structure (consisting of furan rings and aldehyde groups).
Paper highlights/abstract
(1) The controllable synthesis of nickel phosphide catalysts with different crystalline phases was achieved by using a phytic acid-assisted pyrolysis strategy. The phosphate groups on phytic acid can chelate Ni2+, which is conducive to the uniform dispersion of nickel phosphide nanoparticles on mesoporous silica. (2) Nickel phosphide catalysts show interesting phase-dependent catalytic properties in the process of furfural hydrogenation. Ni12P5/mSiO2 can catalyze the hydrogenation and rearrangement of furfural to cyclopentanone with high selectivity, with a maximum yield of 97.3%. Ni3P/mSiO2 can further hydrogenate cyclopentanone to cyclopentanol. Ni3P/mSiO2 shows temperature-controlled selectivity for hydrogenation and rearrangement. Furfuryl alcohol is mainly produced at low temperatures, while cyclopentanone is mainly produced at high temperatures. (3) Studies have shown that the crystal structure affects the selectivity of furfural hydrogenation conversion by changing the hydrogenation activity, the number of acidic sites and the adsorption configuration of furfural on the surface of nickel phosphide catalysts.
The high-pressure mechanical reactor used by Professor Wang Hongliang’s research group in the experiment was provided by Ke Mi Instruments. Anhui Ke Mi Instruments Co., Ltd. was also specifically mentioned in the paper. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teacher for his choice and recognition of Ke Mi Instruments.
