Biomass Group, Nanjing Agricultural University, PO Box 68, 40 Dianjiangtai Road, Nanjing 210031

Catalytic conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to some value-added derivatives

Recently, Dr. X. Kong and Prof Zhen Fang, collaborated with Profs. IS Butler (McGill, Montreal) and JA Kozinski (New Model Institute – Hereford University, UK), published a critical review paper in Green Chemistry about 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) for biofuels and chemicals. HMF is a platform chemical derived from C6 sugars, which can be transformed into various important chemicals and fuels because of the presence of C=O, C-O and furan ring functional groups. In this review, the selective tailoring of these groups in HMF to form 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2,5-dihydromethylfuran, 2,5-dihydromethyltetrahydrofuran, 5-ethoxymethylfurfural, 1,6-hexanediol, long-chain alkanes, 3-(hydroxy-methyl)cyclopentanone, p-xylene, 2,5-diformylfuran, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and maleic anhydride will be described to gain more insight into its transformations under various conditions. The focus of the review is on the mechanisms of the catalytic processes and potential design strategies for future catalysts. The activation of the functional groups and the key challenges involved in the precise design of bifunctional catalysts are highlighted. Some examples of “one-pot” transformations of fructose to various chemicals using the HMF platform are also presented.

Related results were published:

1. X Kong, YF Zhu, Zhen Fang*, JA Kozinski, IS Butler, LJ Xu, H Song, XJ Wei, Catalytic Conversion of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to Some Value-Added Derivatives, Green Chemistry, 20, 3657-3682 (2018) (Critical Review).

 The catalytic mechanisms and catalyst design strategies for 5-hydroxymethylfural conversion.（5-羟甲基糠醛转化的催化机理和催化剂设计策略）

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我院生物能源组孔晓博士在Green Chemistry期刊发表综述

 催化转化5-羟基甲基糠醛为生物燃料和高附加值的化合物

 最近，国际学术期刊Green Chemistry（影响因子8.6，第一署名单位为南京农业大学，第一作者为孔晓，通讯作者为方真教授），发表了生物能源组和加拿大麦吉尔大学IS Butler 教授以及英国赫里福郡大学JA Kozinski教授合作的生物燃料综述文章。

孔晓博士在文中综述了5-羟基甲基糠醛(HMF)催化转化为生物燃料，总结了其转化的催化机理和催化剂设计策略。 HMF是一种衍生自C6糖的平台化学品。由于存在C=O，C-O和呋喃类官能团，所以它可以转化为各种重要的化学品和燃料。在这篇综述中，有选择性地调整这些在HMF中的官能团来形成2,5-二甲基呋喃、2,5-二氢甲基呋喃、2,5-二氢甲基四氢呋喃、5-乙氧基甲基呋喃、1,6-己二醇、长链烷烃、3-（羟甲基）环戊酮、对二甲苯、2,5-二甲酰基呋喃、2，5-呋喃二甲酸和马来酸酐，以能够更加深入地了解HMF在各种条件下的转化。本综述的重点是催化过程的机理和未来催化剂的潜在设计策略。该文强调了官能团的活化作用和双官能团催化剂精确设计中所面临的关键挑战。还介绍了使用HMF平台分子将果糖“一锅法”转化为各种化学品的一些实例。

详情可见：

1. X Kong, YF Zhu, Zhen Fang*, JA Kozinski, IS Butler, LJ Xu, H Song, XJ Wei, Catalytic Conversion of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to Some Value-Added Derivatives, Green Chemistry, 20, 3657-3682 (2018) (Critical Review).

One-step production of biodiesel from Jatropha oils with high acid value by magnetic acid-base amphoteric nanoparticles

Alkaline oxides concerted with acidic -COOFe structure, for the one-pot esterification and transesterification of high AV Jatropha oils without saponification. Zn₈@Fe-C₄₀₀ achieved nearly 100% Jatropha biodiesel yield at 160 ^oC within 4 h, and was used for at least 10 cycles with biodiesel yield of >94.3% at AV of 6.3 mg KOH/g.（磁性酸碱两性催化剂通过两步法合成：羧甲基纤维素钠和Fe³⁺螯合生成的酸性结构-COOFe将碱性氧化物包埋在催化剂的内部，煅烧步骤将部分的-COOFe结构还原成Fe₃O₄，为催化剂引入磁性。合成的Zn₈@Fe-C₄₀₀可以催化酸值为6.3 mg KOH/g的小桐子油获得100.0%的生物柴油产率，循环使用10次小桐子生物柴油的产率仍然大于94.3%）

Recently, Miss Yi-Tong Wang (PhD student from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences) supervised by Prof. Zhen FANG has synthesized magnetic acid-base amphoteric nanoparticles. Alkaline oxides (ZnFe₂O₄, ferrihydrite, zincite, maghemite and magnetite) concerted with acidic -COOFe structure, benefited the one-pot esterification and transesterification of Jatropha oils with high acid value to produce biodiesel without additional pretreatment. The strong magnetism of catalyst helped catalyst separation for recycle in biodiesel production. Jatropha biodiesel yield of 100% at 160 ^oC within 4 h, with methanol/oil molar ratio of 40/1 and catalyst dosage of 7 wt% was achieved, while the catalyst can be cycled for at least 10 times with biodiesel yield > 94.3% at acid value of 6.3 mg KOH/g. No obvious saponification was observed during the reactions and storage.

The results were published:

YT Wang, Zhen Fang*, XX Yang, YT Yang, J Luo, K Xu, GR Bao. One-step production of biodiesel from Jatropha oils with high acid value at low temperature by magnetic acid-base amphoteric nanoparticles, Chemical Engineering Journal, 348, 929-939 (2018).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894718308283

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磁性酸碱两性纳米粒子催化高酸值的小桐子油在低温下一步法制备生物柴油

最近，王一同（女）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，通过两步法合成了磁性酸碱两性催化剂，并应用于小桐子生物柴油的制备。

该研究通过简易的两步法合成高活性的磁性酸碱两性纳米颗粒，用于高酸值不可食用的小桐子油联合酯化和转酯化反应，一步法制备小桐子生物柴油。在低温160 ^oC反应4 h可以获得100.0%的生物柴油产率，通过简单的磁性分离可以循环使用10次 (产率仍然大于94.3%)，展现了非常出色的工业应用能力。通过半年的常温储存，合成的小桐子生物柴油未发生皂化。

结果发表在Chemical Engineering Journal: Yi-Tong Wang, Zhen Fang*, Xing-Xia Yang, Ya-Ting Yang, Jia Luo, Kun Xu, Gui-Rong Bao. One-step production of biodiesel from Jatropha oils with high acid value at low temperature by magnetic acid-base amphoteric nanoparticles, Chemical Engineering Journal (IF6.7), 348, 929-939 (2018)。

Efficient catalytic transfer hydrogenation of biomass-based furfural to furfuryl alcohol with recycable Hf-phenylphosphonate nanohybrids

Recently, Dr. Hu Li supervised by Profs. Zhen FANG and RL Smith has synthesized an acid-base bifunctional nanohybrid phenylphosphonic acid (PhP) – hafnium (1:1.5) through assembly of PhP with HfCl4 for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural (FUR) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA) using 2-propanol as both reaction solvent and hydrogen donor source. An FFA yield of 97.6% with formation rate of 9760 μmol g-1 h-1 at 99.2% FUR conversion was obtained with the reaction system at 120 °C for 2 h reaction time. Activation energy (Ea) was estimated to be 60.8 kJ/mol with respect to FUR concentration, which is comparable with or even lower than Ea values attained over metal catalysts. The pronounced catalytic activity of PhP-Hf (1:1.5) is attributed to its moderate acidity and relatively strong basicity. The PhP-Hf (1:1.5) catalyst was demonstrated to maintain its activity for five consecutive reuse cycles.

Related results were published:
H Li, Y Li, Zhen Fang*, RL Smith Jr., Efficient Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Biomass-Based Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol with Recycable Hf-Phenylphosphonate Nanohybrids, Catalysis Today, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2018.04.056,  2018.

Mesoporous PhP-Hf(1:1.5) nanohybrid material bearing acidic and basic sites promotes catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol with 97.6% yields with 2-propanol as solvent and hydrogen donor source at 120 °C in 2 h reaction time.【介孔PhP-Hf（苯磷酸-铪）纳米MOF(金属有机框架材料)复合物同时具有酸性和碱性位点，促进了糠醛加氢催化转化为糠醇，120℃反应两小时，使用异丙醇作为反应溶剂和氢供体时，糠醇产率为97.6%。】

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李虎博士在国际学术期刊Catalysis Today发表学术论文

可回收重复利用的苯基-铪纳米MOF复合物高效加氢催化糠醛转化为糠醇

最近，国际学术期刊Catalysis Today（影响因子4.7, Q1，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。

该研究团队通过组装苯磷酸（PhP）和四氯化铪而制成一种酸碱双官能团纳米杂化苯磷酸MOF（金属有机框架）催化剂，使用异丙醇作为反应溶剂和氢供体，用于加氢催化糠醛（FUR）转化为糠醇（FFA）。在120℃反应2小时的条件下，FUR的转化率为99.2%，FFA产率为97.6%，生成速率为9760μmol/gh。FUR转化的活化能（Ea）估计为60.8KJ/mol，与金属催化剂相比，其具有可与之媲美甚至更低的活化能。PhP-Hf（1:1.5; 苯磷酸-铪纳米MOF）显著的催化活性得益于其温和的酸性和相对强的碱性。PhP-Hf（1:1.5）催化剂可连续重复使用5次。

详情可见：
H Li, Y Li, Zhen Fang*, RL Smith Jr., Efficient Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Biomass-Based Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol with Recycable Hf-Phenylphosphonate Nanohybrids, Catalysis Today, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2018.04.056,  2018.

These 3 books below are highly downloaded (以下3本由方老师等编著的专著为Springer高下载图书）:

1.Zhen Fang*, R. L. Smith, Jr., X. Qi (Editors), Production of Platform Chemicals from Sustainable Resources, Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefineries, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg Berlin, hardcover, 14 Chapters, ISBN 978-981-10-4171-6, 500 pages, 2017. (Among the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in 2017; 7k chapter downloads, Feb. 2018).

2.Zhen Fang*, R. L. Smith, Jr.(Editors), Production of Biofuels and Chemicals from Lignin, Springer Book Series – Biofuels and Biorefineries, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg Berlin, hardcover, ISBN 978-981-10-1964-7, 2016. (Among the top 50% most downloaded eBooks in 2016; 12k chapter downloads, Feb. 2018).

3.Zhen Fang (Editor), Pretreatment Techniques for Biofuels and Biorefineries, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg,  ISBN 978-3-642-32734-6, hardcover, 476 pages, 2013. (Among the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in 2013; 36k chapter downloads, Feb. 2018).

Prof. Zhen Fang Won “2018 Most Cited Chinese Researchers” in Energy by Elsevier, He also won the award in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 [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“2017年中国高被引学者”，他2014，2015和2016也进入“中国高被引学者”榜单。