Biomass Group, Nanjing Agricultural University

A novel biomass-derived mesoporous bifunctional hybrid (FDCA-Hf) prepared by facile assembly of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with hafnium (Hf) was highly stable and active for the production of biofuels and valuable chemicals from bio-based compounds such as ketones, aldehydes and acidic oils via acid-base cooperative catalysis

Recently, Dr. Hu Li supervised by Prof. Zhen  Fang  designed and prepared a new porous and acid-base bifunctional hybrid (FDCA-Hf)  by simple assembly of biomass-derived 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with hafnium (Hf) under template-free conditions. The resulting FDCA-Hf hybrid with mesopores centered at 6.9 nm, moderate surface area (365.8 m²/g) and acid-base couple sites (density: 0.51 vs 0.97 mmol/g, acid/base molar ratio: 0.53), could selectively catalyze the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of carbonyl compounds under mild reaction conditions (as low as 90 ºC in a short time of 1 h), especially of ethyl levulinate to γ-valerolactone, in quantitative yields (95-100%) and relatively higher reaction rate (e.g., turnover frequency: 2.28 h^-1) compared to other catalysts. Moreover, the efficient simultaneous (trans)esterification of Jatropha oils with high acidic values to biodiesel (up to 98% yield) could also be achieved over FDCA-Hf with robust acid-base catalytic sites. The FDCA-Hf hybrid was highly stable due to the presence of robust metal-organic framework and could be resued with no decline in activity. Further studies demonstrated that the synergistic role of Lewis acid-base couple species (Hf⁴⁺–O^2–) and Brønsted acidic species (-OH) of FDCA-Hf contributed greatly to its pronounced catalytic activity.

Related results were published:

H Li , TT Yang, Zhen Fang*, Biomass-derived Mesoporous Hf-containing Hybrid for Efficient Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction at Low Temperatures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (IF 11.7), 227, 79–89 (2018).

最近，国际学术期刊Applied Catalysis B: Environmental（第一署名单位为南京农业大学，第一作者为博士后李虎，通讯作者为方真教授）发表了生物燃料最新研究成果。

李虎博士通过简单的组装2,5-呋喃二甲酸（FDCA）和金属铪（Hf），制备出一种新型介孔双功能的混合物（FDCA-Hf），它高度稳定和活跃，可用于酸碱协同催化生物基化合物如酮，醛和高酸值油低温高效生产生物燃料和有价值的化学品。

详情可见：

H Li , TT Yang, Zhen Fang*, Biomass-derived Mesoporous Hf-containing Hybrid for Efficient Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction at Low Temperatures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (IF 11.7), 227, 79–89 (2018).

Inclusion of Zn into Metallic Ni Enables Selective and Effective Synthesis of 2,5-Dimethylfuran

Recently, Dr. X. Kong supervised by Profs. Y Zhu (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Zhen Fang developed  a highly selective Ni-based alloy catalyst for furanic fuel production from 5-hydroxymethylfurfuran. The NiZn alloy catalyst was formed through Zn inclusion to Ni by controllable reduction of the NiZnAl hydrotalcite-derived NiO–ZnO–Al₂O₃ mixed oxide. The combination of temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), CO-adsorbed infrared spectroscopy (CO-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the surface of the NiZn catalyst was composed of β₁-NiZn while the bulk was composed of α-NiZn. Moreover, the surface Ni atoms were geometrically isolated by Zn atoms and modulated to be electron-rich. Finally, the rate of C═O/C—O hydrogenolysis over C═C/C-C hydrogenation for NiZn alloy catalyst was approximately three times higher than that of monometallic Ni catalyst. A 93.6% yield of DMF was obtained over NiZn alloy catalyst. The greatly improved DMF yield was thus attributed to the electron modification and isolation of Ni atoms due to the formation of NiZn alloy.

Related results were published:

X. Kong, Y. Zhu, H. Zheng, Y. Zhu, Zhen Fang*, Inclusion of Zn into Metallic Ni Enables Selective and Effective Synthesis of 2,5-Dimethylfuran from Bioderived 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 5 (2017) 11280-11289.

High yield of DMF (93.6%) was obtained from hydrogenolysis of HMF, which is an important process for sustainable fuel production from biomass.【通过调变金属Ni的电子状态和结构状态，实现了Ni基催化剂高选择性催化5-羟甲基糠醛加氢制呋喃燃料的过程】

—————————————-

高选择性Ni基催化剂催化5-羟甲基糠醛制呋喃液体燃料

最近，国际学术期刊ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering（影响因子5.9，第一署名单位为南京农业大学，第一作者为孔晓，通讯作者为中科院山西煤化所朱玉雷研究员和方真教授），发表了生物能源组催化转化生物质平台分子制生物液体燃料最新研究成果。阐明了NiZn合金化对Ni加氢催化性能的调变。
孔晓博士通过在Ni催化剂上引入金属Zn，形成了NiZn合金催化剂。该催化剂表面由β1-NiZn组成，体相为α-NiZn。合金化过程使得催化剂表面得到调变，金属Zn向金属Ni转移电子，使Ni电子状态发生变化；同时Zn很好的稀释Ni原子，进而减弱呋喃环在Ni上的吸附，最后催化剂表现出较高的5-羟甲基糠醛选择性加氢选择性。

孔晓博士还在斯普林格出版社出版的专著《Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Bifunctional Catalysts》上应邀撰写书的一章节，详细介绍了非均相催化剂的表征方法和基本原理，以及用固体酸、金属和金属酸双功能催化剂促进纤维素转化。

详情可见：
1. X. Kong, Y. Zhu, H. Zheng, Y. Zhu*, Zhen Fang*, Inclusion of Zn into Metallic Ni Enables Selective and Effective Synthesis of 2,5-Dimethylfuran from Bioderived 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 5 (2017) 11280-11289.
2. X Kong, Y Zhu, H Li, Zhen Fang*, RL Smith, Jr, Introduction to Characterization Methods for Heterogeneous Catalysts and Their Application to Cellulose Conversion Mechanisms, Editors: Zhen Fang, RL Smith Jr, H. Li, Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Bifunctional Catalysts, Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefineries, Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg Berlin, ISBN 978-981-10-5136-4, Chapter 2, 2017.
3. H Li, X Kong, Zhen Fang*, RL Smith, Jr, Fundamentals of Bifunctional Catalysis for Transforming Biomass-Related Compounds into Chemicals and Biofuels, Editors: Zhen Fang*, RL Smith Jr, H. Li, Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Bifunctional Catalysts, Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefineries, Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg Berlin, ISBN 978-981-10-5136-4, Chapter 1, 2017.

Production of Liquefied Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Based Polyols via Microwave Heating

Recently, Mr. UA Amran (a PhD student from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia) supervised by Profs. S Zakaria and Zhen Fang produced polyols from oil palm wastes using microwave.

Optimization of microwave-assisted liquefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (EFB) and cellulose (EFBC) in ethylene glycol (EG) was carried out to produce polyols. The liquefaction residues and hydroxyl numbers of the resultant polyols from respective sources were studied and compared. EFB produced a minimum residue of 3.22% at the optimal parameters of 160 °C and 15 min. Meanwhile, optimum liquefaction of EFBC produced 1.03% residue at 175 °C and 40 min. The maximum hydroxyl numbers of both EFB (749.22 mg KOH/g) and EFBC (639.91 mg KOH/g) polyols were obtained at optimum conditions. FTIR analysis revealed the degradation mechanism of cellulose and lignin in EFB at different temperatures. Lignin was found to be liquefied easily at lower temperatures (130 and 145 °C). However, most of the cellulose began to be liquefied at the optimum temperature (160 °C) and severely degraded at higher temperatures (175 and 190 °C).

Related results were published:
1. UA Amran, S Zakaria*, CH Chia, Zhen Fang*, MZ Masli, Production of Liquefied Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Based Polyols via Microwave Heating, Energy & Fuels, 31(10), 10975–10982 (2017).

通过微波加热，液化棕榈油果的空壳生产多元醇

生物能源组与Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia联合培养的博士生UA Amran先生在导师S Zakaria和方真教授指导下，利用微波反应系统液化棕榈油果的空壳生产多元醇。相关研究结果以“Production of Liquefied Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Based Polyols via Microwave Heating”,为题发表在国际专业期刊Energy & Fuels, 31(10), 10975–10982 (2017)。

“Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Bifunctional Catalysts” (Hardcover ISBN978-981-10-5136-4) edited by Profs. Zhen Fang and Richard L. Smith Jr., and Dr. Hu Li is published by Springer:

http://www.springer.com/cn/book/9789811051364

Catalytic processes in multiple steps are typically required in the selective conversion of biomass derivatives into value-added chemicals and biofuels. Much effort has been made in the past decades toward the integration of different types of catalytic transformations with a bifunctional catalyst to improve reaction efficiency, enhance product selectivity, and promote specific reaction pathways. This book provides state-of-the-art reviews, current research, prospects, and challenges of production of platform chemicals (e.g., hexose, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, furfural, and levulinic acid) and liquid biofuels (e.g.,biodiesel, 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2-methylfuran, and γ-valerolactone) from sustainable biomass resources with cooperative catalytic processes that include heterogeneous bifunctional chemocatalysis (acid-base, Bronsted-Lewis acid, and metal-acid) and combined bio-/chemo-catalytic routes. Fundamentals of bifunctional catalysis and catalysts, characterization reaction mechanism/pathways, methods for heterogeneous catalysts, the impact of catalyst design on the reactivity, and catalytic process integration are introduced. The application of biomass-derived compounds for the synthesis of commodity chemicals and liquid transportation fuels via various catalytic routes is also covered.

This book is the eighth book of the series entitled “Biofuels and Biorefineries,” and it contains 12 chapters contributed by leading experts in the field.

The text should be of interest to students, researchers, academicians, and industrialists who are working in the areas of catalysis, catalyst design, renewable energy, environmental and chemical sciences, engineering, resource development, biomass processing, sustainability, materials, biofuels, and chemical industries.

——————————————–

斯普林格新书《双功能催化剂生产生物燃料和化学品》出版

    由方真老师，日本东北大学Richard L. Smith Jr.教授和李虎博士主编的新书《Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Bifunctional Catalysts》，最近由斯普林格公司出版发行。（精装，390页， Hardcover ISBN 978-981-10-5136-4, 2017）(http://www.springer.com/cn/book/9789811051364)。

    本书（12章）提供了生产生物燃料和化学品的最新评论、研究现状、前景和挑战。如生产呋喃生物燃料、生物柴油、羧酸、多元醇和从木质纤维素生物质生产别的生物燃料等、糠醛、合成气和用双功能催化剂合成戊内酯。包括用催化，并结合生物和化学催化过程。

    催化材料的双功能特性不仅仅是使用多功能固体材料作为活化剂的概念，而且在这样一种方式下设计材料，催化材料具有协同作用的特点，促进一连串的转换，性能大大优于简单混合单功能催化剂的转化。本书是为催化、能源、化工和生物质转化领域的研究人员、学者和实业家设计的参考书。读者会发现章节中包含实用和重要的丰富信息，用化学催化和生物技术评估各种生物燃料和化学品的生产和应用。

   该书是斯普林格系列丛书“生物燃料和生物炼制- Biofuels and Biorefineries”（方真老师担任该丛书总编辑）出版的第八本专著，也是方真老师自2009年以来，编著出版的第十五部英语专著。

Prof. Zhen Fang Won “2016 Most Cited Chinese Researchers” in Energy by Elsevier, He also won the award in 2014 and 2015. [China ranks the first in total citation and citation of the influential research papers (Top10％) in engineering, 2013-2015]

方老师获爱思唯尔能源领域“2016年中国高被引学者”，他2014和2015也进入“中国高被引学者”榜单。

Based on the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) document Kefa Hanzhi[2017]#428, Prof. Zhen Fang won 2017 “CAS Excellent Supervisor Award“.

http://www.bfse.cas.cn/tzgg/201709/t20170922_4615565.html

At the same time, according to the document Kefa Hanzhi[2017]#427，his PhD student Dr. Fan Zhang won 2017 “CAS  excellent PhD dissertation“, with title “Production of carbon based magnetic catalysts for the green synthesis of biodiesel”.

http://www.bfse.cas.cn/tzgg/201709/t20170922_4615556.html

Congratulations!

据中国科学院科发函字〔2017〕 428号，方老师获2017年度中国科学院优秀导师奖。

http://www.bfse.cas.cn/tzgg/201709/t20170922_4615565.html

据科发函字〔2017〕 427号, 方老师指导的博士生张帆，博士论文 《碳基磁性催化剂制备及其催化合成生物柴油绿色工艺研究》获2017“中国科学院优秀博士学位论文”

http://www.bfse.cas.cn/tzgg/201709/t20170922_4615556.html

该论文围绕利用小桐子果壳、种皮和竹粉等热带生物质废弃物替代传统葡萄糖和活性炭为碳质材料，制备出多种可磁场分离的新型碳基磁性固体酸/碱催化剂（ZL 201610754946.6，ZL 201410764721.X）；并通过多种表征分析方法详细阐述了反应与合成机理；最后利用自主设计组建的连续流动釜式反应装置（ZL 201620978132.6，ZL 201420785283.0）协同催化剂高效清洁合成生物柴油，以此实现了废弃植物残渣综合利用制备催化剂并用于合成生物柴油及副产物甘油转化的绿色工艺研究。

Springer book “Production of Platform Chemicals from Sustainable Resources” was published

Recently, Springer has published a book entitled “Production of Platform Chemicals from Sustainable Resources” edited by Profs. Zhen Fang, Richard L. Smith Jr. and Xinhua Qi, Springer, Hardcover ISBN978-981-10-4171-6, 475 pages, 2017 (http://www.springer.com/cn/book/9789811041716).

With increasing concerns on environmental pollution and global warming that resulted from traditional fossil resource applications, much progress has been made in the past few years in developing catalytic reaction systems and chemistries for the conversion of various biomass resources into platform chemicals. This text provides state-of-the-art reviews, current research, prospects, and challenges of production of platform chemicals such as C6 sugars, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, γ-valerolactone, xylitol, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, levulinic acid, ethanol, and others from sustainable biomass resources with processes that include heterogeneous catalysis, ionic liquid, hydrothermal/solvothermal, electrochemical, and fermentation methods. Reaction mechanism, methods for product separation and purification, and process integration are introduced. The application of these chemicals and their derivatives for synthesizing commodity chemicals via various routes is also covered.

This book contains 14 chapters contributed by leading experts in the field. The text is arranged into five key areas:

Part I: Production of Sugars (Chap. 1)

Part II: Production of Aldehydes (Chaps. 2, 3, and 4)

Part III: Production of Acids (Chaps. 5, 6, 7, and 8)

Part IV: Production of Alcohols (Chaps. 9, 10, 11 and 12)

Part V: Production of Lactones and Amino Acids (Chaps. 13 and 14)

The text should be of interest to students, researchers, academicians, and industrialists who are working in the areas of renewable energy, environmental and chemical sciences, engineering, resource development, biomass processing, sustainability, materials, biofuels, and chemical industries.

This book is the seventh book of the Springer series entitled, “Biofuels and Biorefineries” (Prof. Zhen Fang is serving as Editor-in-Chief), and the fourteenth English book edited/authored by Prof. Zhen Fang since 2009.

Biofuels and Biorefineries：

http://www.springer.com/series/11687?detailsPage=titles

斯普林格新书《可持续资源生产平台化学品》出版

由方真老师，日本东北大学Richard L. Smith Jr.教授和农业部环境保护科研监测所漆新华教授主编的新书Production of Platform Chemicals from Sustainable Resources》，最近由斯普林格公司出版发行。（精装，475页， ISBN 978-981-10-4171-6, 2017）(http://www.springer.com/cn/book/9789811041716)。

由于传统化石资源大量应用, 人们对环境污染和全球变暖日益关注。在过去的几年中，利用催化反应系统和化学、生物方法，将各种生物质资源转化为平台化学品方面取得了很大的进展。

本书回顾了, 最新研究、前景和生产平台化学品的挑战。这些平台化学品包括C6糖类、5-羟甲基糠醛、糠醛、伽马-戊内酯、木糖醇、 2,5-呋喃二甲酸、乙酰丙酸、乙醇和其他来自可持续生物质资源合成的化学品。合成的方法和过程, 包括非均相催化、离子液体、水热/溶剂热、电化学和发酵方法等。本书还介绍了反应机理、产物分离、纯化方法和工艺集成。

最后，本书涵盖了这些化学品及其衍生物合成为商品化学品的各种途径。

本书包含14章，由来自世界各地该领域的顶尖专家撰写，每章均被同行评审和编辑以提高文本的质量、研究范围和覆盖的主题。该书包括五个关键领域：

第一部分：生产糖类（第1章）

第二部分：生产醛类（第2-4章）

第三部分：产酸类（第5-8章）

第四部分：生产醇类（第9-12章）

第五部分：内酯和氨基酸的生产（第13和章）

本书在可再生能源、环境与化学科学、工程、资源开发、生物质加工、可持续性、材料、生物燃料和化学工业等领域提供了全面的信息。它为生物化学和能源领域的学生，研究人员，学者和实业家提供了宝贵的学术资源。

该书是斯普林格系列丛书“生物燃料和生物炼制- Biofuels and Biorefineries”（方真老师担任该丛书总编辑）出版的第七本专著，也是方真老师自2009年以来，编著出版的第十四部英语专著

生物燃料和生物炼制丛书：

http://www.springer.com/series/11687?detailsPage=titles。

方真老师2007年初全职回国后， 自2009以来出版的十五部英文专著：

Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefineries: Titles

1.Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Ionic Liquids, 2013, edited by Zhen Fang, R. L. Smith, Jr., X. Qi 

2.Near-critical and Supercritical Water and Their Applications for Biorefineries, 2014, edited by Zhen Fang, C Xu

Prof. Zhen FANG was invited to the editorial board of “The Journal of Supercritical Fluids”

Recently, Prof. Zhen FANG joined the editorial board of The Journal of Supercritical Fluids as invited by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Erdogan Kiran, Publishers Dr. Angela Welch and Mr. Ian Salusbury. Initially the appointment will be for a period of 4 years. As an editorial board member, Prof. Fang will help maintain and improve the journal standards by monitoring the editorial policy of the journal in terms of scope and the level and quality of papers published.
The Journal of Supercritical Fluids (Impact factor 2.99, Elsevier, https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-journal-of-supercritical-fluids/) is an international journal devoted to the fundamental and applied aspects of supercritical fluids and processes. Its aim is to provide a focused platform for academic and industrial researchers to report their findings and to have ready access to the advances in this rapidly growing field. Its coverage is multidisciplinary and includes both basic and applied topics.

In addition, Prof. Fang is also serving as:
1.Editor-in-Chief, Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefineries
（http://www.springer.com/series/11687?detailsPage=titles）
2.Associate Editor, Biotechnology for Biofuels (IF 5.3)（http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/about/edboard）
Editorial (advisory) board members,
3.Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining -Biofpr (IF 3.69), （http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1932-1031/homepage/EditorialBoard.html）
4.Energy, Sustainability and Society-a Springer open journal (http://www.energsustainsoc.com/about/edboard)
5.Energy and Policy Research (Taylor & Francis)(http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uetp21/current)

方真老师应邀担任《The Journal of Supercritical Fluids》编委

最近,  应主编 Erdogan Kiran教授, 出版商Angela Welch博士和 Ian Salusbury先生邀请，方真老师担任《The Journal of Supercritical Fluids》【《超临界流体学报》】编委。最初的任命将为期4年。作为编辑委员会成员, 方老师将负责监测刊物的编辑政策，发表论文的范围、水平和质量, 帮助维护和改进期刊标准。《The Journal of Supercritical Fluids》 (影响因子 2.99, 化工Q1区，https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-journal-of-supercritical-fluids/) ，是爱思唯尔（ELSEVIER）主办的国际期刊, 专门涉及超临界流体和过程的基本原理和应用。其目的是为学术和工业界研究人员提供一个重点的平台, 报告他们的研究结果, 并准备好进入这一迅速发展的领域的进展。它的覆盖面是多学科的并且包括基础的和应用的专题。

此外, 方老师还担任其他国际著名学术期刊（四大巨头：Springer，ELSEVIER, WILEY和Taylor&Francis Group）出版社所属的丛书和期刊的总编辑和编委:
1.总编辑, 斯普林格系列丛书-生物燃料和生物炼制 Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefinerie（http://www.springer.com/series/11687?detailsPage=titles）
2.副主编，生物燃料技术 Biotechnology for Biofuels (影响因子： 5.2)（http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/about/edboard, Springer)
3.顾问编委, 生物燃料, 生物制品和生物炼制 Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining -Biofpr (影响因子： 3.69)（http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1932-1031/homepage/EditorialBoard.html, Wiley)
4.顾问编委, 能源、可持续性与社会-斯普林格开放期刊, Energy, Sustainability and Society, a Springer open Journal (http://www.energsustainsoc.com/about/edboard)
5.编委, 能源和政策研究 (泰勒和弗朗西斯) Energy and Policy Research (http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uetp21/current, Taylor & Francis)

Hydrophobic Pd nanocatalysts for one-pot and high-yield production of liquid furanic biofuels at low temperatures

Efficient production of furanic/aromatic hydrocarbons (>95% yields) from biomass derivatives is achieved via a single-step process under mild conditions (25-130 ºC) by using readily available polymethylhydrosiloxane as liquid H-donor over hydrophonic Pd nanoparticles on MOFs.【以聚甲基氢硅氧烷为氢源，在低温条件下 (25-130 ºC)，利用疏水纳米钯Pd催化糖类（羰基和羟基化物），一锅高效(> 95% 产量)合成呋喃液体燃料】

 Recently, Dr. Hu Li supervised by Prof. Zhen FANG has developed a single-step catalytic process for direct conversion of various saccharides to produce furanic biofuels such as 2,5-dimethylfuran and 2-methylfuran with high yields (> 95%) at 110-130 ºC. The negatively charged hydride (H-) of readily available polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) acting as green H-donor over hydrophobic Pd nanoparticles did not obstruct upstream reactions (e.g., hydrolysis, isomerization and dehydration) for the in situ formation of furanic aldehydes/alcohols from sugars, and could selectively facilitate the subsequent hydrodeoxygenation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups other than the furanic ring in one pot, as clarified by deuterium-labeling study. Importantly, the unreduced Pd(II) catalysts also exhibited comparable performance in the selective hydrodeoxygenation reaction. Moreover, the catalytic strategy was extended to various carboxides for quantitative production of corresponding furanic/aromatic hydrocarbons at room temperature that were more pronounced than previously reported results, and the optimal Pd/MIL-53(Al) coated with polydimethylsiloxane (Pd/MIL-53(Al)-P) was highly stable with little deactivation and Pd leaching for at least five consecutive cycles.
Related results were published:
1.H Li, W Zhao, Zhen Fang*, Hydrophobic Pd Nanocatalysts for One-Pot and High-Yield Production of Liquid Furanic Biofuels at Low Temperatures, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 215, 18–27 (2017).
2.H Li, W Zhao, A Riisager, S Saravanamurugan*, Z Wang, Zhen Fang*, S Yang*, Pd-catalyzed in-situ domino process for mild and quantitative production of 2,5-dimethylfuran directly from carbohydrates,  Green Chemistry, 19, 2101–2106 (2017).
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高效低温从糖和羰基化物一步直接合成呋喃液体燃料

最近，国际学术期刊Applied Catalysis B: Environmental（影响因子9.4，第一署名单位为南京农业大学，第一作者为博士后李虎，通讯作者为方真教授）及Green Chemistry 【影响因子9.2，第一作者为李虎博士，通讯作者为杨松教授（贵州大学），Saravanamurugan博士（印度）和方真教授】，发表了生物燃料最新研究成果。
该研究团队开发了一个单步催化过程, 以聚甲基氢硅氧烷polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS)为氢源，在低温条件下 (25-130 ºC)，利用疏水纳米钯（Pd）催化糖类（羰基和羟基化物），单步高效(> 95% 产量)合成呋喃液体燃料。
他们发现PMHS（带负电荷的高分子氢化物），作为绿色氢源，以纳米钯为催化剂，在原位加氢糖类合成呋喃醛/醇时，不会阻碍其上游的反应 (例如, 水解, 异构化和脱水)。通过同位素氘标记研究证明，该反应系统可以一锅法，有选择地促进羰基和羟基化物的加氢脱氧。更重要的是, 未还原的Pd(II)纳米催化剂在选择性加氢脱氧反应中也表现出相当的性能。此外, 当该催化反应系统扩展到利用各种羰基化物时, 可在室温下，定量生产相应的呋喃/芳烃。用聚二甲基硅氧烷涂层的疏水Pd催化剂具有极高的稳定性, 且在至少连续五个周期中几乎没有失活和Pd浸出。

详情可见：
1.H Li, W Zhao, Zhen Fang*, Hydrophobic Pd Nanocatalysts for One-Pot and High-Yield Production of Liquid Furanic Biofuels at Low Temperatures, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 215, 18–27 (2017).
2.H Li, W Zhao, A Riisager, S Saravanamurugan*, Z Wang, Zhen Fang*, S Yang*, Pd-catalyzed in-situ domino process for mild and quantitative production of 2,5-dimethylfuran directly from carbohydrates,  Green Chemistry, 19, 2101–2106 (2017).

Biodiesel production from high acid value oils with a highly active and stable bifunctional magnetic acid

Carbonaceous bifunctional magnetic solid acid catalyst with high acid content was synthesized by four-step method. It efficiently catalyzed the esterification of oleic acid, transesterification of soybean oil and pretreatment of Jatropha oil with easy separation for 10 cycles. （双功能磁性固体酸催化剂通过四步法合成和活化，用于酯化油酸，转酯化豆油和预处理小桐子油制备生物柴油，只需简单的磁性分离步骤可循环使用10次）。

Recently, Miss Yi-Tong Wang (PhD student from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences) supervised by Prof. Zhen FANG has synthesized carbonaceous bifunctional magnetic solid acid catalyst with both Brønsted and Lewis sites to efficiently catalyze the esterification of oleic acid with 97% biodiesel yield, transesterification of mixed soybean oil with high acid value (AV) with 95% biodiesel yield and pretreat Jatropha oil with AV reduced from 17.2 to 0.7 mg KOH/g. Biodiesel yield > 90% at 90 oC for 4 h reaction time was obtained for ten cycles by easy magnetic separation which showed potential practical applications in the field of green production of biodiesel.
The results were published:
YT Wang, Zhen Fang*, XX Yang, Biodiesel Production from High Acid Value Oils with a Highly Active and Stable Bifunctional Magnetic Acid, Applied Energy, 204, 702–714(2017).

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高活性和稳定性的磁性固体酸催化剂催化高酸值的油脂制备生物柴油

最近，王一同同学（中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园博士研究生）在方老师的指导下，通过四步法合成了双功能磁性固体酸催化剂，并应用于生物柴油制备。

为了降低生物柴油制备工艺的能耗，通过四步法合成一种同时具有路易斯酸位点和布朗斯特酸位点的磁性固体酸。合成的磁性固体酸具有优秀的催化能力，可以酯化油酸获得97%生物柴油产率，转酯化高酸值的豆油获得95%生物柴油产率，预处理酸值为17.2 mg KOH/g的小桐子原油使其酸值降为0.7 mg KOH/g。合成的双功能磁性固体酸拥有较好的稳定性，通过简单的磁性分离可以循环使用10次，展示了出色的商业化应用前景。

结果发表在Applied energy: Yi-Tong Wang, Zhen Fang*, Xing-Xia Yang, Biodiesel Production from High Acid Value Oils with a Highly Active and Stable Bifunctional Magnetic Acid, Applied Energy, 204, 702–714(2017).