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From Lignocellulosic Biomass to Furfural: Insight into the Active Species of a Silica‐Supported Tungsten Oxide Catalyst
Author(s) -
Bhaumik Prasenjit,
Dhepe Paresh Laxmikant
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201600784
Subject(s) - furfural , catalysis , bagasse , lignocellulosic biomass , silicotungstic acid , chemistry , heterogeneous catalysis , nuclear chemistry , catalyst support , husk , organic chemistry , materials science , cellulose , pulp and paper industry , engineering , botany , biology
A sol–gel‐synthesized silica‐supported tungsten oxide catalyst that has Lewis acidity was characterized and employed as a solid acid catalyst in the synthesis of furfural directly from lignocellulosic biomass (isolated xylans and crop wastes). In a one‐pot method, 71 % furfural formation from isolated xylan was possible using a water/toluene (1:2 v/v) biphasic solvent system at 170 °C after 10 h over 10 wt % WO 3 /SiO 2 . The WO 3 /SiO 2 catalyst in the selective conversion of pentosan from crop wastes (bagasse, wheat straw, and rice husk) yielded 72–87 % furfural under the optimum reaction conditions. Additionally, the catalyst presented excellent recyclability in at least eight runs after simple water washing. From the catalyst characterization studies, it was suggested that silicotungstic‐type acid species are anchored on the WO 3 /SiO 2 catalyst that help to achieve a good catalytic activity.