The gasification of biomass is a promising technique to generate different forms of valuable alternative energy, including direct thermal energy and further conversion of synthesis gas to clean liquid fuels or chemicals via Fischer– Tropsch synthesis (FTS) [1–5]. The ideal H2/CO ratio for FTS is ~2/1 based on the stoichiometry. However, The H2/ CO for the synthesis gas obtained from biomass gas...

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) has been identified as a sustainable platform chemical for the production of carbon-based chemicals. Here we report a screening study on the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to GVL in water using a wide range of ruthenium supported catalysts in a batch set-up (1 wt. % Ru, 90 ◦C, 45 bar of H2, 2 wt. % catalyst on LA). Eight monometallic catalysts were tested on carbon b...

Ni-based catalysts as replacement for noble metal catalysts are of particular interest in the catalytic conversion of biomass due to their cheap and satisfactory catalytic activity. The Ni/SiO2 catalyst has been studied for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol, and doping with phosphorus (P) found to improve the catalytic performance significantly because of the formation of Ni2P alloys. However, in ...

A novel variant of an iridium-based organometallic catalyst was synthesized and used to enhance the NMR signals of pyridine in a heterogeneous phase by immobilization on polymer microbead solid supports. Upon administration of parahydrogen (pH2) gas to a methanol mixture containing the HET-SABRE catalyst particles and the pyridine, up to fivefold enhancements were observed in the (1)H NMR spect...

Bismuth plays important roles in promoting the oxidation of alcohols towards high-valueadded chemicals over a noble metal loading catalyst. Herein, Mg–Al hydrotalcite-supported platinum–bismuth nanoparticles (Pt–Bi/HT) were prepared by the co-impregnation method and used in the selective oxidation of glycerol towards dihydroxyacetone (DHA). The incorporation of Bi species into Pt/HT significant...

We describe a new catalyst for group IV nanowire heterostructures, based on alloying Ag with Au, that combines the ability to control catalyst phase and nanowire structure with good environmental stability. Compared to other alloy catalysts, we show a higher oxidation resistance of AgAu and more consistent crystal shapes and catalyst/nanowire orientation relationships during growth. We show tha...

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the microwave-assisted direct liquefaction of Sargassum polycystum C.Agardh in ethylene glycol (EG) with H(2)SO(4) as a catalyst. Based on the results of single factor experiments, EG-to-feedstock ratio, temperature and catalyst content were chosen as independent variables for a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The optimal liquef...

Research is ongoing at Stanford University on the catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide as an environmentally friendly monopropellant for propulsion and power applications. Two meso-scale planar monopropellant thrusters have been successfully tested: one made of monolithic silicon carbide utilizing a commercially supplied catalyst, and the other made of Hastelloy-X ® utilizing a rhodium base...

Although catalyst deactivation rate greatly varies depending on many factors, including the catalyst structure, reactor feed composition, and operating conditions; it is usually inevitable. Since catalyst deactivation modeling has so far been poorly addressed in the literature, in the present study, nine experimental sets of cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts activity-time data were conside...

The electroreduction of water for sustainable hydrogen production is a critical component of several developing clean-energy technologies, such as water splitting and fuel cells. However, finding a cheap and efficient alternative catalyst to replace currently used platinum-based catalysts is still a prerequisite for the commercialization of these technologies. Here we report a robust and highly...