Electrocatalytic activation and conversion of methanol and CO 2 to dimethyl carbonate with graphite and platinum electrodes in the dialkylimidazolium ionic liquid-methanol system was conducted under ambient conditions. Among the ionic liquids screened, 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BzmimCl) exhibited effective performance as a supporting electrolyte. In the process of the electrolysis, dimethyl carbonate was effectively synthesized in the absence of any other additives. Based on the electrochemical activation of the methanol on the electrode, insertion of CO 2 , CH 3 OH participating in the reaction, the electrochemical reaction mechanism proposed here is very different from those previously reported.

Nano α-Fe 2 O 3 materials with various size and morphology were prepared from acid pickling waste using nonionic surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as dispersant and ultrasonic enhancement, as proved by SEM, XRD, TEM, UV-vis and ICP-MS, respectively. The results showed that high purity (96.89%) α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were well-crystallized with different size and morphology, mainly including web-like structure linked by about 25 nm spherical particles (Fe-w), nano rod with about 45 nm width diameter (Fe-r) and daylily bud-like materials with 50 nm width leaf (Fe-l). The Fe-w, as well as other nano-sized α-Fe 2 O 3 was found to be very active for benzylation of aromatics by benzyl chloride, exhibiting TOF 35.2 h -1 for anisole, 65.1 h -1 for aniline, 33.3 h -1 for phenol and 1776 h -1 for benzene, respectively.The catalyst could be recycled at least three times without appreciable loss of catalytic activity.

The two‐component mixed oxides FeVOx with various molar ratio of Fe to V were prepared and their phase composition, structure and morphology were determined by XRD and SEM. This prepared material was employed for liquid‐phase oxidation of octanol using H2O2 as oxidant. The mixed oxide FeVOx with 2.5 : 1 of Fe to V molar ratio was found to be an effective catalyst with high selectivity to octanal under solvent‐free condition. The relationship between the catalytic performance and phase compositions of the mixed oxides was investigated by the test of its activity and XRD characterization. The catalytic action of the active sites including redox and acidic sites formed by interaction between VOx and FeOx on the surface of the catalyst was discussed. The catalyst was easily recovered and reused.

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