Catalytic dehydration of D-xylose to 2-furfuraldehyde in the presence of Zr-(W,Al) mixed oxides. Tracing by-products using two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

authors	Antunes, MM; Lima, S; Fernandes, A; Candeias, J; Pillinger, M; Rocha, SM; Ribeiro, MF; Valente, AA
nationality	International
journal	CATALYSIS TODAY
author keywords	Xylose; 2-Furfuraldehyde; Acid dehydration; Zirconium; Tungsten; By-products identification
keywords	HIGH-TEMPERATURE; PHASE DEHYDRATION; SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION; SUPERCRITICAL WATER; SURFACE-ACIDITY; D-FRUCTOSE; D-GLUCOSE; TUNGSTEN; ZIRCONIA; BIOMASS
abstract	Zirconium-tungsten mixed oxides (ZrW) are effective catalysts in the aqueous-phase dehydration of D-xylose to 2-furfuraldehyde (Fur), at 170 degrees C. The texture and acid properties of ZrW materials were modified to enhance Fur yields. The catalysts prepared by co-condensation without a templating agent (ZrW(X), X = NO3, Cl; X is related to the type of zirconium precursor) possess relatively low specific surface area and amounts of accessible acid sites, leading to a modest Fur yield of ca. 35% at 99% conversion. The use of a templating agent in the preparation of mesoporous ZrW (ZrW-MP) increased considerably the specific surface area and the amount of accessible acid sites, which resulted in enhanced Fur yields (42%) reached at comparable conversions. Further improvements in Fur yields at high conversions were accomplished by introducing aluminium in the catalyst preparation procedure to give ZrAlW-MP (51% yield at 98% conversion). Fairly good catalytic results were also obtained in the case of the ZrAlW-MP catalyst, using solely water as solvent (46% yield at 93% conversion). A study of the identification of the reaction by-products by two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ToFMS) was carried out. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
issn	0920-5861
year published	2012
volume	195
issue	1
beginning page	127
ending page	135
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1016/j.cattod.2012.03.066
web of science category	Chemistry, Applied; Chemistry, Physical; Engineering, Chemical
subject category	Chemistry; Engineering
unique article identifier	WOS:000310570300017