Issue 12, 2024

Boosting the activity of UiO-66(Zr) by defect engineering: efficient aldol condensation of furfural and MIBK for the production of bio jet-fuel precursors

Abstract

The production of jet-fuel precursors from furfural via aldol-condensation with methyl-isobutyl ketone (MIBK) over defect-engineered UiO-66(Zr) catalysts is presented. The catalysts are prepared using formic acid (FA), trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and HCl as synthesis modulators, leading to the incorporation of defects on the microcrystalline structure of the metalorganic framework (MOF) material, which dramatically boosts the catalytic performance. An extensive characterization of the modified catalysts by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), argon adsorption isotherm, thermogravimetry (TGA), transmission electron microscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed acetonitrile, confirmed the incorporation of missing-linker and missing-node defects within the MOF structure, enabling the explanation of the enhancement in the catalytic process. The analysis of the reaction kinetics evidences that, working under moderate temperature conditions, conversion of furfural and selectivity to the desired adduct (FuMe) close to 100% can be achieved, avoiding the formation of degradation and bulkier compounds. Finally, despite the generation of defects within the UiO-66(Zr) structure, the resultant catalyst displays good reusability in low furfural concentration mediums.

Graphical abstract: Boosting the activity of UiO-66(Zr) by defect engineering: efficient aldol condensation of furfural and MIBK for the production of bio jet-fuel precursors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Dec 2023
Accepted
23 May 2024
First published
30 May 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Green Chem., 2024,26, 7337-7350

Boosting the activity of UiO-66(Zr) by defect engineering: efficient aldol condensation of furfural and MIBK for the production of bio jet-fuel precursors

M. Sanz, P. Leo, C. Palomino, M. Paniagua, G. Morales and J. A. Melero, Green Chem., 2024, 26, 7337 DOI: 10.1039/D3GC05022J

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