Diesel-like hydrocarbons obtained by direct hydrodeoxygenation of sunflower oil over Pd/Al-SBA-15 catalysts

Hydrodeoxygenation of sunflower oil was performed in an autoclave over 5.0 wt.% Pd/Al-SBA-15 (Si/Al molar ratios from 22 to 300) and Pd/HZSM-5(22). The effects of acidity of the catalysts and the reaction temperatures on the activity of the catalysts were investigated. Pd/Al-SBA-15(Si/Al = 300) showed a high activity as 74.4% liquid yield and 72.9% C15–C18 diesel-like hydrocarbons yield at 250 °C. At 300 °C, the higher activity over Pd/Al-SBA-15(Si/Al = 50, 100 and 300) catalysts compared with that over Pd/Al-SBA-15(22) and Pd/HZSM-5(22) indicated that strong acidity of the catalysts was not favorable for converting sunflower oil into C15–C18 diesel-like hydrocarbons at a high temperature.     

Enzymatic conversion of corn oil into biodiesel in a batch supercritical carbon dioxide reactor and kinetic modeling

Synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) as biodiesel from corn oil was studied in a batch supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) bioreactor using immobilized lipase (Novozym 435) as catalyst. Effects of reaction conditions on the contents of FAME, monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), and triacyglycerols (TAG) were investigated at various enzyme loads (5–15%), temperatures (40–60 °C), substrate mole ratios (corn oil:methanol; 1:3–1:9), pressures (10–30 MPa), and times (1–8 h). The highest FAME content (81.3%) was obtained at 15% enzyme load, 60 °C, 1:6 substrate mole ratio, and 10 MPa in 4 h. A reaction kinetic model was used to describe the system, and the activation energy of the system was calculated as 72.9 kJ/mol. Elimination of the use of organic solvents, chemical catalysts and wastewater as well as reasonably high yields make the enzymatic synthesis of biodiesel in SC-CO₂ a promising green alternative to conventional biodiesel process.     

Lipase Catalyzed Synthesis of Medium-chain Biodiesel from Cinnamonum camphora Seed Oil

The non-edible camphor tree seed oil was extracted and catalyzed by immobilized lipase for biodiesel production. The oil yield from camphor tree seeds reached 35.2% of seed weight by twice microwave-assisted extractions. Gas chromatography showed that free fatty acid content in camphor tree seed oil was 1.88%, and the main fatty acids were capric acid (53.4%) and lauric acid (38.7%). With immobilized lipase Candida sp. 99–125 as catalyst, several important factors for reaction conditions were examined through orthogonal experiments. The optimum conditions were obtained: water content and enzyme loading were both 15% with a molar ratio of 1:3.5 (oil/ethanol), and the process of alcoholysis was in nine steps at 40 °C for 24 h, with agitation at 170 r·min^− 1. As a result, the medium-chain biodiesel yield was 93.5%. The immobilized lipase was stable when it was used repeatedly for 210 h.     

Catalytic performance of zinc containing ionic liquids immobilized on silica for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

Cycloaddition of carbon dioxide and epoxides was investigated using zinc halide based Lewis acidic ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts. ILs such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (BMImBr), 1-butylpyridinium bromide (BPyBr), tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBABr) were mixed with zinc halide and supported on silica gel to produce heterogeneous catalysts. Catalytic reaction tests demonstrated that the incorporation of zinc ions can significantly enhance the catalytic activity of the silica-supported ILs for the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides in solvent-free conditions. BPyBr-ZnCl₂/SiO₂ showed the highest propylene carbonate yield of 98% when the reaction was carried out with 0.5 g of catalyst at 120 °C at 1.89 MPa of CO₂ pressure for 4 h. The immobilized zinc containing IL catalyst could be reused for at least four cycles without any considerable loss of its activity.     

Preparation of supported skeletal Ni catalyst and its catalytic performance on dicyclopentadiene hydrogenation

Preparation and catalytic performance of skeletal Ni catalysts supported on Al₂O₃ were studied. The effects of alloy powder/pseudo-boehmite powder mass ratios and calcination temperatures of precursors on surface properties, compressive strength and catalytic performance were investigated. It was found that catalysts prepared by precursors which were molded with alloy powder/pseudo-boehmite powder mass ratio of 4/6 and calcinated at 860 °C in air atmosphere exhibited excellent compressive strength (16.11 N/mm), high dicyclopentadiene conversion (> 95%) and appropriate THDCPD selectivity (> 50%) during 1000-hour evaluation. The operational conditions were obtained as following: T = 120 °C, P = 2.0 MPa, LSHV = 2.0 h^− 1 and hydrogen–oil ratio = 300:1.     

Immobilization of β-glucosidase and its aroma-increasing effect on tea beverage

β-Glucosidase was effectively immobilized on alginate by the method of crosslinking–entrapment–crosslinking. After optimization of the immobilized conditions, the activity recovery of immobilized β-glucosidase achieved to 46.0%. The properties of immobilized β-glucosidase were investigated. Its optimum temperature was determined to be 45 °C, decreasing 10 °C compared with that of free enzyme, whereas the optimum pH did not change. The thermal and pH stabilities of immobilized β-glucosidase increased to some degree. The K_m value for immobilized β-glucosidase was estimated to be 1.97 × 10^?3 mol/L. The immobilized β-glucosidase was also applied to treat the tea beverage to investigate its aroma-increasing effect. The results showed that after treated with immobilized β-glucosidase, the total amount of essential oil in green tea, oolong tea and black tea increased by 20.69%, 10.30% and 6.79%, respectively. The storage stability and reusability of the immobilized β-glucosidase were improved significantly, with 73.3% activity retention after stored for 42 days and 93.6% residual activity after repeatedly used for 50 times.     

Non-oxidative conversion of ethane to ethylene over transition metals supported on Mg–Al mixed oxide: Preliminary screening of catalytic activity and coking ability

Conversion of ethane into ethylene and hydrogen at 700 °C over pre-reduced Mg–Al mixed oxide-supported transition metal M catalysts (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) has been studied. The catalysts were prepared from layered double hydroxide precursors synthesized by conventional coprecipitation of metal cations under basic conditions. The results of preliminary screening tests revealed that among all catalysts the chromium-containing material demonstrated the most attractive catalytic behavior showing ethane conversion markedly higher than with other catalysts, considerably high selectivity to ethylene, and a low coking ability.     

Biodiesel production over Ca-based solid catalysts derived from industrial wastes

The solid oxide catalysts derived from the industrial waste shells of egg, golden apple snail, and meretrix venus were used as biodiesel production catalysts. Their catalytic activity in transesterification of palm olein oils and their physicochemical properties (by TG/DTA, EDX, SEM, N₂ sorption, CO₂-TPD, and XRD) were systematically investigated. The waste materials calcined in air with optimum conditions (temperature of 800 °C, time of 2–4 h) transformed calcium species in the shells into active CaO catalysts. The activity of the catalysts was in line with the basic amount of the strong base sites, surface area, and crystalline phase in the catalysts. All catalysts derived from egg and mollusk shells at 800 °C provided high activity (>90% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in 2 h). These abundant wastes showed good potential to be used as biodiesel production catalysts.     

Improved catalytic activity of SiC supported Ni catalysts for CO2 reforming of methane via surface functionalizations

The effect of surface functionalizations on structural and catalytic properties of SiC supported Ni catalysts for CO₂ reforming of methane has been investigated. Commercial SiC was surface functionalized to form a carbon composite (C-SiC) and an N-doped carbon composite (N-C-SiC) at the interface of SiC. Micro- and meso-pores were generated after surface functionalizations. The reforming activity followed the sequence of Ni/N-C-SiC > Ni/C-SiC > Ni/SiC, which can be rationalized by the enhanced Ni dispersion and enriched basic sites on the functionalized catalysts. The present work demonstrates surface functionalization as a simple method to improve the catalytic activity of SiC supported catalysts.     

Self-assembled heterogeneous late transition–metal catalysts for ethylene polymerization; New approach to simple preparation of iron and nickel complexes immobilized in clay mineral interlayer

To develop heterogeneous catalysts for ethylene polymerization, bis(imino)pyridineiron(III), α-diiminenickel(II), and iminopyridinenickel(II) complexes were immobilized in the clay mineral (montmorillonite, fluorotetrasilicic mica or saponite) interlayers by a one-pot preparation method. In this method, the Fe^3 +- and Ni^2 +-exchanged clay minerals as an acid catalyst promoted the ligand formation from a ketone derivative and an aniline derivative, and then the formed ligand simultaneously coordinated to the metal ions located in the clay mineral interlayer. The obtained heterogeneous catalysts showed 100–3,000 g-PE g-cat^− 1 h^− 1 as activities for the ethylene polymerization/oligomerization.     

Preparation and application of epoxy–chitosan/alginate support in the immobilization of microbial lipases by covalent attachment

The aim of this work was the preparation and application of highly hydrophobic epoxy–chitosan/alginate as a support to immobilize microbial lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus commercially available as Lipolase® (TLL1) and Lipex® 100L (TLL2) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL). The catalytic properties of the biocatalysts were assayed in olive oil hydrolysis and butyl butyrate synthesis. The results indicated that 12 h was enough for TLL1 to be immobilized on the support. Covalent attachment of TLL1 turned biocatalysts highly active and around 6-fold more stable than free lipase. Based on the results, a time of incubation of 24 h was selected for further studies about the maximum immobilized protein amount and butyl butyrate synthesis. Maximum protein loading immobilized was found to be 25.4 mg g^?1 support for TLL1, followed by TLL2 (20.5 mg g^?1) and PFL (15.5 mg g^?1) offering 80 mg protein g^?1 support. The immobilization of TLL1 and TLL2 resulted in highly active biocatalysts (around 1300 IU g^?1 gel), almost fivefold higher than PFL (272.4 IU g^?1 gel). In butyl butyrate synthesis, PFL showed similar activity to TLL1 and TLL2 derivatives, up to 60 mmol L^?1. The biocatalysts displayed high activity after five successive cycles, retaining around 95% of the initial activity.     

Promotional effects of Ce on the activity of MnAl oxide catalysts derived from hydrotalcites for low temperature benzene oxidation

Ce/MnAl and MnAl mixed metal oxides catalysts have been obtained by calcination of layered double hydroxides precursors. The composite oxides catalysts were studied in total oxidation of benzene. Physicochemical properties of all the catalysts were characterized by using a series of specific analytical techniques. The results revealed that the 0.2Ce/MnAl catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic performance with T₉₀ about 210 °C at a high space velocity (SV = 60,000 mL g^− 1 h^− 1), ascribed to its lower-temperature reducibility, the abundant surface lattice oxygen (O_latt), and synergetic effect between Mn^4 + and Ce^3 +/Ce.     

Thermogravimetric study on pyrolysis of biomass with Cu/Al2O3 catalysts

The Cu/Al₂O₃ catalysts of three different compositions (10, 20 and 30 wt.% Cu loading), have been investigated with regard to their catalytic effects on pyrolysis of paper biomass species (up to 800 °C) by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) experiments. The results show that catalysts made devolatilization at lower (below 200 °C) and middle temperature (200–400 °C) regions in the pyrolysis of the biomass species, and the temperature reduction effects follow the order: 30 > 20 > 10 wt.% copper loading. Although the catalysts with 10 and 20 wt.% copper have shown almost similar activity, whereas dehydration reaction was enhanced almost 40% in the presence of 30 wt.% copper-loaded catalyst. At the same time, the amount of residue at the end of the reaction also decreased with increase in the copper loading from 10 to 30 wt.%. At higher temperatures (above 400 °C), the catalyst with greater copper loaded worked more nicely possibly due to the enhancement of the depolymerization reaction over dehydration of cellulose in presence of more basic catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD results show the formation of CuAl₂O₄ spinel and Cu₂O phase in the catalysts.     

SBA-15-supported ionic liquid compounds containing silver salts: Novel mesoporous π-complexing sorbents for separating polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters

Novel π-complexing sorbents were prepared by covalently immobilizing ionic liquids (ILs) onto mesoporous SBA-15 using a one-pot sol–gel process followed by coating these SBA-15-supported IL compounds with silver salts. The mesoporous π-complexing sorbents were characterized by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), FTIR, TEM, SEM, nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherm, NMR, and nitrogen elemental analysis. Two advantages were obtained using these novel mesoporous π-complexing sorbents versus the traditional π-complexing sorbents formed by directly anchoring silver salts onto silica gel. (1) Higher extraction capacities were found. The extraction capacity for the polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl ester (PUFAME), methyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoate (20:5 or EPA), was 195 mg/g sorbent using the mesoporous AgBF₄/SBA-15 · IL · PF₆ sorbent. The capacity decreased to 121 mg/g sorbent with microporous complexing sorbent AgBF₄/SiO₂ · IL · PF₆. (2) Better reusability was also achieved. The supported IL phase immobilized and retained silver salt on SBA-15 due to the interaction between the ionic liquid’s imidazolium cations and silver ions. Eight successive sorption runs with the AgBF₄/SBA-15 · IL · PF₆ sorbent showed a satisfactory reusability. The traditional π-complexing sorbent has a silver salt directly anchored on silica without the supported ionic liquid phase. Higher silver leaching into organic solution occurred from the AgBF₄/SBA-15 sorbent determined by ICP-AES. The combined percentage (wt%) of the omega-3 PUFAMEs: 20:5 and methyl all-cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoate (22:6 or DHA) stripped from the AgBF₄/SBA-15 · IL · PF₆ by 1-hexene was significantly enriched from 18% in the original cod liver oil to 90.5%.     

Use of unsupported,mechanically alloyed NiWMoC nanocatalyst to reduce the viscosity of aquathermolysis reaction of heavy oil

Ni, W, Mo and C catalysts were mixed and mechanically processed at room temperature for different grinding times: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 h. The phases at every stage of milling were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The powders were used in the catalytic aquathermolysis reaction of heavy oil. X-RD showed by increasing the milling time from 0 to 240 h, nanostructured carbide phases were synthesized with a crystallite size ranging from 125.6 to 10.1 nm, which was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The performance of the nano-catalysts in the heavy oil before and after the reaction was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). As the milling time increased, the ratio of the viscosity reduction of the heavy oil increased from 80.4% to 97.1% by using the catalyst milled for 240 h.     

Catalytic conversion of trichloroethylene on nickel containing beta zeolites into value added products

Nickel containing BEA zeolites, NiSiBEA and NiHAlBEA, with 2 wt% of Ni were prepared by a two-step postsynthesis method and conventional wet impregnation. The calcination of NiSiBEA and NiHAlBEA at 773 K for 3 h in air led to the formation of C-NiSiBEA and C-NiHAlBEA. After reduction at 873 K for 3 h in flowing 10% H₂/Ar, red-C-NiSiBEA and red-C-NiHAlBEA were obtained and investigated as the catalysts in hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene at 503 K. Comparative study performed on red-C-NiSiBEA and red-C-NiHAlBEA showed very high stability of the catalyst prepared by a two-step postsynthesis method and strong deactivation of the catalyst prepared by conventional wet impregnation during ~ 17 h of reaction. Application of both catalysts resulted in high selectivity to unsaturated hydrocarbons that are the most desired products in HDC processes. TPH of the catalysts after kinetic run have shown that the main cause of deactivation of NiHAlBEA is the formation of carbonaceous species during hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene.     

Enzymatic production of biodiesel from Pistacia chinensis bge seed oil using immobilized lipase

Biodiesel fuel from renewable non-edible woody plant oils has recently attracted more attention due to its environmental benefits and the reduced costs of raw materials. This study investigated the enzymatic transesterification of Pistacia chinensis bge seed oil (PCO) with methanol. The recombinant Rhizopus oryzae lipases (ROL) immobilized on macroporous resin and anion exchange resin, named as MI-ROL and AI-ROL, respectively, were used as biocatalysts. The transesterification reaction catalyzed by the immobilized lipase was investigated in a solvent-free system. The highest biodiesel yields of 92% and 94% were achieved under the optimum conditions (enzyme dosage 25 IU_AI-ROL/g PCO or 7 IU_MI-ROL/g PCO, methanol to oil molar ratio 5:1, water content 20% by weight of oil, temperature 37 °C, and reaction time 60 h). There was no obvious loss in the yield of biodiesel after being consecutively used for five cycles in the transesterification reactions using AI-ROL, while the yield of biodiesel remained above 60% after the MI-ROL was repeatedly used for four cycles.     

Mesoporous CuO/TixZr1 − xO2 catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation

Mesoporous CuO/Ti_xZr_1 − xO₂ catalysts were prepared by a surfactant-assisted method, and characterized by N₂ adsorption/desorption, TEM, XPS, in-situ FTIR and H₂-TPR. The catalysts exhibited high specific surface area (S_BET = 241 m²/g) and uniform pore size distribution. XPS and in-situ FTIR displayed that Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ species coexisted in the catalysts. The CuO/Ti_xZr_1 − xO₂ catalysts presented obviously higher activity in CO oxidation reaction than the CuO/TiO₂ and CuO/ZrO₂ catalysts. Effect of molar ratios of Ti to Zr and calcination temperature on catalytic activity was investigated. The CuO/Ti_0.6Zr_0.4O₂ catalyst calcined at 400 °C exhibited excellent activity with 100% CO conversion at 140 °C.     

Effect of calcination temperature and MgO crystallite size on MgO/TiO2 catalyst system for soybean oil transesterification

The effect of calcination temperature and MgO crystallite sizes on the structure and catalytic performance of TiO₂ supported nano-MgO catalyst for the transesterification of soybean oil has been studied. The catalyst has been prepared by deposition–precipitation method, characterised by XRD, TEM, XRF, BET and FTIR and tested in a batch autoclave at 225 °C. The soybean oil conversion after 15 min of the transesterification reaction increased when the calcination temperature was increased from 500 to 600 °C and decreased with further increase in calcination temperature. Some glycerolysis activity was also detected on catalysts calcined at 600 and 700 °C after 45 min of reaction. The soybean oil conversion during the transesterification reaction increased with the decrease in MgO crystallite size for the first 30 min.     

Production of fatty acid methyl esters over a limestone-derived heterogeneous catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor

Production of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) via the transesterification of different vegetable oils and methanol with a limestone-derived heterogeneous catalyst was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor at 65 °C and ambient pressure. This heterogeneous catalyst, as a 1 or 2 mm cross-sectional diameter extrudate, was prepared via a wet mixing of thermally treated limestone with Mg and Al compounds as binders and with or without hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as a plasticizer, followed by calcination at 800 °C. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were characterized by various techniques. Palm kernel oil, palm oil, palm olein oil and waste cooking oil could be used as the feedstocks but the FFA and water content must be limited. The extrudate catalyst prepared with the HEC addition exhibited an enhanced formation of FAME due to an increased porosity and basicity of the catalyst. The FAME yield was increased with the methanol/oil molar ratio. The effect of addition of methyl esters as co-solvents on the FAME production was investigated. The structural and compositional change of the catalysts spent in different reaction conditions indicated that deactivation was mainly due to a deposition of glycerol and FFA (if present). The FAME yield of 94.1 wt.% was stably achieved over 1500 min by using the present fixed-bed system.