Abstract:
Bio-refinery is attracting significant interest to produce a wide
range of renewable chemicals and fuels from biomass that are
alternative to fossil fuel derived petrochemicals. Similar to
petrochemical industries, bio-refinery also depends on solid
zeolite catalysts. Acid-base catalysis plays pivotal role in
producing a wide range of chemicals from biomass. Herein, the
Mg framework substituted MTW zeolite is synthesized and
explored in the valorisation of glucose and furfural. Bi-functional
(acidic and basic) characteristics are confirmed using pyridine
adsorbed FT IR analysis and NH3 and CO2 temperatureprogrammed desorption techniques. Textural properties and
morphological information are retrieved from N2-sorption, X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The
activity of the catalyst is demonstrated in the selective isomerisation of glucose to fructose in ethanol. Glucose is converted
to methyl lactate in high yield using the same catalyst. Further,
the bi-functional activity of this catalyst is demonstrated in the
production of fuel precursor by the reaction of furfural and
isopropanol. Mg MTW zeolite exhibits excellent activity in the
production of all these chemicals and fuel derivative. The
catalyst exhibits no significant loss in the activity even after five
recycles. One simple catalyst affording three renewable synthetic intermediates from glucose and furfural will attract
significant attention to catalysis researchers and industrialist
