2,5-Furandimethanol (FDM) is a diol compound with significant application potential and can be efficiently synthesized via the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Due to HMF's susceptibility to side reactions and the high costs of product separation, a one-step transformation of high-concentration HMF to FDM is highly desirable. In this study, easily separable magnetic RuMoO x /Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesized via chemical reduction and exhibit high catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of high-concentration HMF (17 wt %) to FDM. The analytical results indicate that the active metals are uniformly dispersed on the Fe3O4 surface and that an optimal Ru/Mo ratio (1:3.82) significantly enhances HMF conversion and FDM selectivity. Under the optimized reaction conditions (4 MPa H2, 90 degrees C, and 6 h), the HMF conversion reaches 98.65%, with FDM selectivity as high as 96.46%. Notably, even after seven consecutive catalytic cycles, the FDM yield remains above 83%.

Adding alcohol-based auxiliaries (ABAs), such as mannitol (MT) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), during dilute acid pretreatment can improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose. However, the mechanism by which ABAs-assisted dilute acid pretreatment promotes saccharification of lignocellulose remains unclear. In this work, the effects of PEG6000 and MT assisted dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment on the saccharification of wheat straw were systematically evaluated to clarify the mechanism of saccharification promotion. The results showed that 1 % PEG6000 and 1 % MT increased cellulose conversion by enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated substrates by 50 % and 10 %, respectively. Among them, when 1 % PEG6000 was added to the pretreatment, only 3.39 FPU/g substrate (7.50 mg/g) enzyme loading achieved a cellulose conversion of 94.10 %. Characterization results of the pretreated substrates corresponded to the enzymatic hydrolysis results, that is, PEG6000-assisted pretreated substrates had higher crystallinity and lower lignin coverage. Furthermore, characterization of lignin showed that the multi-OH structure of PEG6000 corresponds to its high polarity. This not only increases the reaction possibility and nucleophilicity between PEG6000 and the (3-O-4 bonds but also increases the retention of the (3-O-4 bonds. Moreover, the multi-OH structure of PEG6000 makes its PEG-lignin (etherified lignin) more hydrophilic, significantly weakening the negative interaction between lignin and cellulase. Therefore, the polarity and multi-OH structure of ABAs are core factors in measuring their promoting effect on enzymatic hydrolysis.

Layered double oxide (LDO) derived from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) by calcination have garnered significant attention for CO2 capture at medium temperature owing to their remarkable CO2 adsorption capability. However, challenges remain unsolved in enhancing their adsorption capacity and cycling stability for practical applications. In this study, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was used as a pore engineering template for preparing MgAl-LDO samples through co-precipitation method for the first time. Combined with nitrate loading, the CO2 adsorption capacity of the modified sample was prominently enhanced to the maximum of 9.37 mmol/g at 250 degrees C. Additionally, the material maintains over 65% of its initial adsorption performance after 21 cycles. The incorporation of PMMA induces the formation of a unique "hollowed-out" morphology in the material, significantly improving the surface properties of MgAl-LDO. The addition of nitrate further remarkably increased the adsorption capacity of the material. The experimental characterization and adsorption kinetics analysis indicate that PMMA and nitrate exhibit a synergistic effect in enhancing CO2 adsorption through topological structure modification and surface chemistry properties optimization: PMMA optimizes the pore structure of the material and enhances the surface homogeneity, while the molten nitrate further increases the active sites and promotes the reaction with CO2 on the material surface. In situ-DRIFT reveals the CO2 chemisorption process that CO2 reacts with NO3-to form CO32-and NO2-, and then CO32-combines with MgO to form reversible MgCO3. In conclusion, the coordinated regulation of structure and function by combining polymer-templated pore engineering with nitrate activation provides a novel strategy for developing high-performance CO2 adsorption materials.

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) have attracted considerable interest due to their functional prebiotic activity and broad application potential. Conventional dilute acid pretreatment typically employs a one-step hydrolysis method for XOS production, which often requires high reaction temperatures and extended durations, and tends to yield products with a high degree of polymerization (DP). The use of p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH) as a strong organic acid offers an effective pretreatment approach that reduces reaction severity, better preserves cellulose integrity, and facilitates acid recovery. In this study, a two-step hydrolysis process was developed using sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as the raw material, combining low-concentration p-TsOH pretreatment with enzymatic hydrolysis by xylanase to produce high-purity XOS. Optimal conditions for p-TsOH pretreatment were first determined through single-factor experiments: 0.3% acid concentration, 150 degrees C, and 45 min, resulting in a XOS yield of 47.7% without formation of inhibitors. Subsequent hydrolysis with xylanase (40 IU/mL) increased the proportion of xylobiose (X2) and xylotriose (X3) in the XOS products from 24.1% to 67.4%. Further purification by 16% activated carbon adsorption, water washing for impurity removal, and ethanol elution achieved a XOS recovery rate of 80.9% and purity of 91.01%, with X2 and X3 reaching 76.4%. The structural identity of the products was confirmed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This process provides a novel strategy for valorizing SCB and producing high-purity XOS.

The efficient conversion of glycerol into high value-added 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) is of great significance for improving economic benefits of renewable biomass utilization. In this study, a series of Fe-modified CuZnAlbased Hydrotalcite (HDT) catalysts (CuFeZnAl-HDT) were prepared by the co-precipitation method and optimized in Al content, M2 + /M3+ ratio, and Cu/Zn ratio. The results show that the prepared Cu35Fe18Zn45Al2 catalyst under Al content of 2 %, M2+/M3+ of 3:1 and Cu/Zn ratio of 1:1 exhibits the highest 1,2-PDO yield of 96.4 % under the optimal reaction conditions. During reaction of 0.5 h, the Cu35Fe18Zn45Al2 catalyst shows a turnover frequency (TOF) of 200.2 h-1 that is higher than most reported Cu-based catalysts. In addition, an increased Al content in the CuFeZnAl-HDT catalyst achieves better recyclability because of less reduction in the specific surface area and smaller Cu particle size after reaction. The characterization results indicate that Cu is the active component for catalyzing glycerol hydrogenolysis and ZnO combining with little Al2O3 plays a support role for dispersing metallic Cu and Fe species. The introduction of suitable Fe significantly increases the concentration of Lewis acid sites on the catalyst surface and the content of oxygen vacancies, thereby endowing stronger activation capabilities for H2 and glycerol. The calculated activation energy for glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,2-PDO by kinetics analysis is 75.16 kJ & sdot;mol- 1 which is lower than other reported catalysts for glycerol conversion. This study provides new insights for the development of high-efficiency and low-cost catalysts for glycerol hydrogenolysis.

Biodiesel serves as a vital alternative to fossil fuels. Its efficient production hinges on the utilization of highly active and stable catalysts alongside optimized reaction processes. In this study, we developed a novel strategy for gentle and efficient resin-based solid acid catalyst synthesis by introducing ester monomer into the precursor to prepare copolymers of styrene, divinylbenzene, and glycidyl methacrylate. This allowed for the more gentle and efficient preparation of resin-based catalysts with sulfonic acid. The effects of sulfonation parameters on their structures and performances were critically evaluated. The optimal catalyst exhibited a specific surface area of 349.8 m²/g, an average pore size of 11.3 nm, and a high surface acid density of 1.73 mmol/g with the consumption of solvent dimethyl sulfoxide significantly reduced by 50%, while the acid density increased by more than 29% compared with our previous work. Esterification conditions were optimized through integrated single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The optimum condition was methanol-to-oleic-acid molar ratio of 11:1, and 8 wt% catalyst dosage under 65 °C for 9 h, achieving an oleic acid conversion of 94.00%. Remarkably, the catalyst demonstrated excellent stability and reusability with activity loss below 5% after 5 cycles. Kinetics and thermodynamic analysis revealed activation energy of 18.17 kJ/mol, and the reaction mechanism was deeply elucidated. Furthermore, palmitic acid and stearic acid have also been proven to be efficiently catalyzed by this catalyst. These findings highlight the catalyst’s significant potential for sustainable biodiesel production.

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a pivotal platform compound derived from biomass, yet its economic production and purification remain a challenge. This study presents an integrated and sustainable process utilizing porous resins for the catalytic production and subsequent separation of HMF. A resin-based solid acid catalyst (SGMA-100 degrees C-4h) with an appropriate acid density of 1.20 mmol/g and a mesoporous structure of 239.35 m2/g was successfully synthesized. This catalyst demonstrated excellent performance in the aqueous-phase dehydration of fructose, achieving a HMF yield of 52.82 % under mild conditions of 165 degrees C and 1.75 h. Furthermore, a hyper-cross-linked resin (HCLR) was employed for downstream purification of HMF, and a purity of 94.21 % was obtained by the efficient adsorption-desorption process. The sugar-containing wastewater from adsorption can be directly replenished and recycled for subsequent reaction, minimizing raw material waste and effluent generation. The entire process foregoes the use of toxic organic solvents and corrosive homogeneous acids. This work establishes a green and practical strategy for the production of biomass-derived platform compounds, highlighting the synergy between catalytic conversion and separation for enhanced process sustainability.

Biomass derivative 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can be selectively oxidized to generate 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which is one of the important reaction pathways for the high-value utilization of biomass. However, the industrialization of the FDCA production via HMF oxidation still faces many challenges. This study found that the ruthenium(Ru) catalysts loaded on the macroporous adsorption resin (Ru/ST-DVB-560) exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the catalytic oxidation of HMF. After reacting in a weak base system for 10 h, HMF was completely converted with 96.60 % FDCA yield. The Ru/ST-DVB-560 catalysts maintained high catalytic activity after being cycled 5 times, and the FDCA yield decreased by only 3.9 %. Furthermore, the reaction products can be easily separated from the Ru/ST-DVB-560 catalysts, and the catalysts can be easily recycled and regenerated. Therefore, this study provides a stable and recyclable high-efficiency Ru/ST-DVB-560 catalyst, which is of great significance for the industrialization of the HMF oxidation to FDCA.

In this study, wheat straw (WS) was pretreated using hydrothermal technology to the co-produce xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and bio-based polyols, thereby enabling the efficient utilization of all components of WS. The results showed that hydrothermal pretreatment significantly reduced the hemicellulose content in WS (from 21.18

The efficient recycling of spent LiFePO4 (SLFP) batteries holds significant strategic importance in terms of resources, environment, and economy. The recovery of Li from SLFP batteries remains a challenge because only Li has recyclable value in these systems. Herein, a novel in-situ solid-phase repair strategy involving hightemperature roasting combined with steam is proposed for the direct regeneration of SLFP materials. The residual lithium salts on the cathode current collector serve as lithium sources, compensating for the depleted lithium and carbon content in the SLFP material and restoring the integrity of the crystal structure. Steam reacts with carbon in the SLFP to generate CO and H2 at high temperatures, thereby significantly accelerating the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+. The regenerated LiFePO4 (RLFP) material demonstrates excellent reversibility, high discharge capacity, and superior rate performance. The RLFP regenerated at 650 degrees C for 2 h with an H2O/C molar ratio of 9 (RLFP-2-9-650) exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 148.2 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C, and a coulombic efficiency of 94.38%. After 100 cycles, it retains 95.4% of its initial capacity, equivalent to 141.38 mAh g-1 . The recycling strategy based on the in situ regeneration of the SLFP cathode not only offers considerable environmental and economic advantages but also demonstrates strong potential for large-scale industrial implementation.

Lignin condensation during acid pretreatment significantly inhibits the efficient saccharification of lignocellulose. In this work, the surfactants (Tween 40, Tween 60, Tween 80, Triton X-100) assisted p-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TsOH) pretreatment to alleviate the lignin condensation and improve the saccharification of wheat straw was investigated. The results indicated that the addition of surfactants during low-concentration p-TsOH pretreatment showed a minor effect on the chemical composition of wheat straw, but it can enhance the saccharification of wheat straw significantly. Tween 60 and Triton X-100 can increase cellulose conversion to 92.96 % and 93.96 %, respectively, at a low enzyme loading of 10 mg/g (4.5 FPU/g). Furthermore, the lignin was extracted from the pretreated wheat straw and characterized by 2D-HSQC NMR. Triton X-100 assisted pretreatment observed a greater percentage of stable C-C linkages (like (3-O-4, (3-(3), which indicated that Triton X-100 assisted p-TsOH pretreatment can significantly inhibit lignin condensation by stabilizing (3-O-4 linkages and introducing hydrophlilic functional groups, thereby reducing non-productive enzyme adsorption. Triton X-100, due to its exceptional ability to enhance the breakdown of lignin and improve enzyme efficiency, is identified as the most effective surfactant in promoting enzyme saccharification. Surfactants assisted low-concentration p-TsOH pretreatment is an efficient method to enhance the saccharification efficiency of wheat straw.

Bio-polyols derived from lignocellulose liquefaction are promising for bio-polyurethane synthesis but contain carbonyl impurities that must be removed. Herein, a crude bio-polyol from wheat straw hydrolysis residue is hydrogenated over a skeletal Cu-Al-Zn catalyst. Model compound experiments confirm selective carbonyl/ester hydrogenation, cyclic ether ring-opening, and suppression of reactive intermediates in the presence of a high hydroxyl background. Compared with the crude bio-polyol, the upgraded product exhibits a reduced acid value (from 13.5 to 4.5 mg KOH/g), an increased hydroxyl value (from 496 to 824 mg KOH/g), and improved color (from 6800 to 82 Hazen units). Deactivation occurs via coke and CaSO4 fouling, while calcination restores activity. Despite 42% Zn leaching, reduced copper species sustain hydrogenation activity. Benchmarking shows performance comparable to Raney Ni and superior to commercial Cu-Zn-Al and Ru/C. The upgraded polyol is a high-quality feedstock for polyurethane synthesis.

The production of lipid from biomass resources such as sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is an important way to achieve energy sustainable development and biorefining. A new glycerol assisted low-concentration acetic acid (AA-Gly) pretreatment was employed to deconstruct the compact and complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass. The influences and interactions of reaction temperature, reaction time, AA and glycerol concentration on fermentable sugar yield (FSY) of SCB were investigated. The results showed that under the optimal pretreatment conditions (0.5% AA and 0.5% glycerol, 160 degrees C, 4 h), a total fermentable sugar concentration of 48.22 g/L was achieved via in-situ enzymatic hydrolysis, with 87.98% FSY. HSQC NMR characterization of ball-milled lignin revealed that AA-Gly pretreatment preserved approximately 89% more beta-O-4 linkages than AA pretreatment alone, and FTIR analysis further confirmed the recovery of lignin and carbohydrate band intensities, consistent with the suppression of lignin condensation. The AA-Gly pretreatment achieved dual effects with the lignin condensation effectively inhibited and hemicellulose hydrolyzed. Subsequently, the pretreated slurry products were directly hydrolyzed by cellulase without solid-liquid separation. It was found that glycerol addition significantly reduced cellulase consumption during in-situ enzymatic hydrolysis. The enzymatic hydrolysate could also be directly used for lipid fermentation without detoxification, a 7.48 g/L lipid yield and 29.36% lipid content were obtained. In summary, this study presents a short, low-pollution process for microbial lipid production, which would support the effective utilization of lignocellulosic biomass.

To establish a recycling process for spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) suitable for industrialization, minimizing energy consumption and simplifying the recycling process are critical. Herein, we propose a roasting reduction method to recover valuable metals from spent LIBs by repurposing the pyrolysis gas of the LIBs. The pyrolysis gas serves as a reducing agent, while the carbon-based materials in the LIBs (graphite, electrolytes, separators, and binders) act as a carbon resource during the roasting process. The results show that the spent LiNi0.65Co0.15Mn0.2O2 (LNCM) cell can be completely reduced to Li, Ni, Co, Mn, or their respective compounds using pyrolysis gas at 550 degrees C. Through a combined environmentally friendly process of water leaching and citric acid leaching, 91.62% of Li, 98.71% of Ni, 99.46% of Co, and 98.51% of Mn are recovered from the roasted products. These recovery efficiencies are higher than that of carbothermal reduction using carbon-based materials in an inert atmosphere. The synergistic effect between the reductive gases in the pyrolysis gas and the carbon resource is a key factor enabling the reduction process of LNCM at lower temperatures compared to conventional carbothermic reduction under an oxygen-free atmosphere. Therefore, the recycling method based on the in situ reduction-leaching of LIBs is environmentally friendly, economical, and has promising applications in industrial scale-up.

Higher-alcohol synthesis from directly higher olefin hydration technology shows great potential for their industrial production, yet it faces challenges including thermodynamic limitations and catalyst stability. This study develops an amphiphilic hollow HZSM-5 (A-H-HZSM-5) through a two-step modification: creating hollow structures via mixed-alkali (TPAOH/Na2CO3) treatment, followed by octyltrimethoxysilane (OTS) grafting for amphiphilicity. The reaction performances of 1-octene hydration to octanol over the prepared catalysts as a model reaction are investigated. Characterization shows mixed-alkali treatment introduces meso/macropores, increasing the pore volume by 3.6 times to form hierarchical pores for improved mass transfer. OTS grafting creates a hydrophobic surface layer, boosting the water contact angle to 147.25° for amphiphilic balance. Alkali treatment reduces strong Bro̷nsted acids, while the OTS modifies acid accessibility. The synergy of the hollow structure and amphiphilicity optimizes mass transfer and adsorption equilibrium, enhancing catalytic performance in olefin hydration. In 1-octene hydration tests under optimized conditions (200 °C, 1.0 MPa, 2 h-1, water/olefin = 10:1), A-H-HZSM-5 achieves 1.37% conversion with 85.03% alcohol selectivity. Systematic investigation reveals that the OTS loading critically regulates surface hydrophobicity, which improves the phase contact upon the surface acid sites of catalysts, while reaction parameters (temperature, pressure, and water ratio) synergistically achieve the thermodynamic equilibrium. This work demonstrates the dual optimization of adsorption and mass transfer through architectural engineering, offering guidance for designing amphiphilic catalysts in hydration reaction systems.

Biomass resources have become a research hotspot in the field of chemical industry to explore new resources because of its abundant total amount and wide distribution range. Biomass-based 2,5-furanediformic acid (FDCA) has attracted much attention due to its potential as a substitute for petroleum-based terephthalic acid (PTA), which industrial production can protect the environment and save resources. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a representative biomass-based platform compound with a wide range of raw materials and a green and sustainable preparation process. Hence, the preparation of FDCA from HMF has attracted much attention in recent years. In this review, HMF oxidation reaction pathway and different catalysts and carriers are reviewed, chiefly including noble metal catalysts, non-noble metal catalysts, metal oxide carriers, non-metal oxide carriers, resin carriers, and other carriers. In particular, the great industrial application potential of the resin carriers loaded with noble metals. We have tentatively prepared an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of HMF to FDCA using macroporous resins loaded with noble metals. Finally, the industrial application of resin-supported noble metal catalysts in the preparation of FDCA by HMF is summarized and prospected. This paper focuses on the research progress of conversion of HMF to FDCA by thermal catalysis, summarizes the research achievements and exists problems of catalytic oxidation of HMF to prepare FDCA, points out the factors limiting the industrialization of HMF to FDCA, and discusses the possible solutions. Finally, the research direction is provided for the industrialization of HMF to FDCA in future.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf is rich in chlorogenic acid, which has antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this work, a new and green strategy for functional hyper-crosslinked adsorption resin based on Friedel-Crafts reaction of pendant vinyl groups in divinylbenzene with anhydrous ethanol and acrylamide grafting polymerization was developed, and the obtained HCREt-AM resin had excellent performance on chlorogenic acid separation from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf extract. Adsorption isotherm and kinetics study showed the adsorption process fitted by Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. The dynamic saturated adsorption capacity of 88.0 mg·g-1 was obtained, and chlorogenic acid content was raised from 7.91% to 48.27%. The pH-controlled ionization of chlorogenic acid determined the adsorption process, and π-π stacking, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions are the main adsorption mechanisms.

The scale-up preparation and shaping of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) is crucial for achieving its industrial application for CO2 capture. In this work, MIL-160(Al)-5L powder was successfully produced in a 5 L reactor with an environmentally friendly and easy route under mild conditions, and then shaped into cylindrical particles via a simple extrusion method using dilute nitric acid as the binder. Mechanical performance tests indicated that the average crushing stress of the particles was 1.45 MPa, which slightly exceeded that of the commercial molecular sieve Zeolite-13X. Characterization of the MIL-160(Al)-5L powder and its shaped particles using XRD, FTIR, and BET analysis revealed there are no significant structural changes compared to experimental MIL-160(Al) except only a 5.93 % decrease in BET surface area for the shaped particles. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms for CO2, CH4, and N2 at 298 K and 273 K were well fitted to the Langmuir-Freundlich model. The CO2 adsorption capacity of the MIL-160(Al)-5L powder and its shaped particles were 3.13 mmol/g and 2.97 mmol/g at 298 K, respectively. Ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) calculations indicated similar selectivity for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 across all samples. Breakthrough experiments demonstrated that the shaped sample possesses stable dynamic adsorption capacity and separation performance for simulated biogas, and its structural integrity is maintained after five consecutive breakthrough-regeneration cycles. Comparison with other shaped MOFs also highlights the advantages of low binder cost, superior mechanical, and adsorption properties, which suggests that MIL-160(Al) has shown potential applications prospect in CO2 capture and gas separation. This work also provides a promising preparation method for developing stable and shaped MOFs for industrial applications.

Condensed lignin produced during dilute acid pretreatment is the main cause of low cellulose conversion and high enzyme dosage. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) assisted low-concentration p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH) pretreatment for reducing lignin condensation and enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat straw was investigated. In addition, the structure of lignin in wheat straw before and after pretreatment was systematically characterized. The results indicated that the cellulose conversion of pretreated wheat straw was significantly improved. Under the optimized conditions (0.5 % PEG6000 and 1 % p-TsOH), the cellulose conversion of pretreated wheat straw increased by 41.03 % and the enzyme loading decreased by 70 %. The cellulose conversion of pretreated wheat straw reached 95.15 % when the enzyme loading was only 7.5 mg/g (3.39 FPU/g). The lignin characterization revealed that the (3-O-4 structure in lignin was protected by the PEG, which was incorporated into the (3-O-4 structure and formed etherified lignin with many hydroxyl tails. Thus, the increase in cellulose conversion is attributed to the fact that the lignin condensation was inhibited by PEG, which reduced the non-productive adsorption of enzyme. p-TsOH and PEG showed significant synergistic effects for the improvement of cellulose conversion. In summary, PEG assisted low-concentration p-TsOH pretreatment can effectively prevent lignin condensation and improve enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency.