Metal oxides are commonly used as Lewis acids catalysts for the conversion of biomass-derived oxygenates in reactions like aldose-ketose isomerization and retro-aldol condensation. Many of these reactions are typically performed using water or alcohols as solvents. In this contribution, we investigate solvent-induced transformations that metal oxides can undergo under typical reaction conditions. These transformations include solvolysis reactions that can alter acid sites or quench them entirely. In addition, alcohols can partially reduce certain metal oxides forming oxygen vacancies.<br/> <br/>It is easy to imagine that such transformations will have a significant impact on the paths of catalytic reactions over these materials. Using a combination of in-situ IR spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption studies, and DFT modeling, we show how the formation and conversion of surface species from mono- and multifunctional oxygenates changes as a result of the transformation of metal oxide catalysts. Most importantly, this study illustrates that reliable structure-property relationships can only be obtained if the real structure of the catalyst under reaction conditions is known.<br/>

Transformations of metal oxides under reaction conditions and their consequence on lewis-acid catalyzed conversion of oxygenates

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.