Morphology Tailoring of Sulfonic Acid Functionalized Organosilica Nanohybrids for the Synthesis of Biomass-Derived Alkyl Levulinates

作者：An, Sai; Song, Daiyu; Lu, Bo; Yang, Xia; Guo, Yi-Hang^*

来源：Chemistry - A European Journal, 2015, 21(30): 10786-10798.

DOI：10.1002/chem.201501219

• biomass
• heterogeneous catalysis
• nanostructures
• organic-inorganic hybrid composites
• silicates

Morphology evolution of sulfonic acid functionalized organosilica nanohybrids (Si(Et)Si-Pr/ArSO3H) with a 1D tubular structure (inner diameter of ca. 5nm), a 2D hexagonal mesostructure (pore diameter of ca. 5nm), and a 3D hollow spherical structure (shell thickness of 2-3nm and inner diameter of ca. 15nm) was successfully realized through P123-templated sol-gel cocondensation strategies and fine-tuning of the acidity followed by aging or a hydrothermal treatment. The Si(Et)Si-Pr/ArSO3H nanohybrids were applied in synthesis of alkyl levulinates from the esterification of levulinic acid and ethanolysis of furfural alcohol. Hollow spherical Si(Et)Si-Pr/ArSO3H and hexagonal mesoporous analogues exhibited the highest and lowest catalytic activity, respectively, among three types of nanohybrids; additionally, the activity was influenced by the SO3H loading. The activity differences are explained in terms of different BrOnsted acid and textural properties, reactant/product diffusion, and mass transfer rate, as well as accessibility of SO3H sites to the reactant molecules. The reusability of the nanohybrids was also evaluated.

• 出版日期2015-7-20
• 单位东北师范大学