Abstract
Efficient production of light olefins from renewable biomass is a vital and challenging target to achieve
future sustainable chemical processes. Here we report a hetero-atomic MFI-type zeolite (NbAlS-1),
over which aqueous solutions of γ-valerolactone (GVL), obtained from biomass-derived
carbohydrates, can be quantitatively converted to butenes with a yield of >99% at ambient pressure
under continuous flow conditions. NbAlS-1 incorporates simultaneously niobium(V) and
aluminium(III) centres into the framework and thus has a desirable distribution of Lewis and
Brønsted acid sites with optimal strength. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy
show that there is cooperativity between Nb(V) and Brønsted acid sites on confined adsorption of
GVL, while the catalytic mechanism for conversion of confined GVL to butenes is revealed by in situ
inelastic neutron scattering, coupled with modelling. This study offers a prospect for the sustainable
production of butene as a platform chemical for the manufacture of renewable materials.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 86-93 |
Journal | Nature Materials |
Volume | 19 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Dec 2019 |