Photo splitting of bio-polyols and sugars to methanol and syngas

Abstract

Methanol is a clean liquid energy carrier of sunshine and a key platform chemical for the synthesis of olefins and aromatics. Herein, we report the conversion of biomass-derived polyols and sugars into methanol and syngas (CO+H 2) via UV light irradiation under room temperature, and the bio-syngas can be further used for the synthesis of methanol. The cellulose and even raw wood sawdust could be converted into methanol or syngas after hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis pretreatment. We find Cu dispersed on titanium oxide nanorod (TNR) rich in defects is effective for the selective C−C bond cleavage to methanol. Methanol is obtained from glycerol with a co-production of H 2. A syngas with CO selectivity up to 90% in the gas phase is obtained via controlling the energy band structure of Cu/TNR.

Selectivity Control in Photocatalytic Valorization of Biomass-Derived Platform Compounds by Surface Engineering of Titanium Oxide

“…These findings indicate that methanol also functions as the proton source in combination with photogenerated electrons for the reductive transformation of furfural (Scheme S2). Using methanol, a cheap solvent that can be derived from biomass, 20 as the hydrogen donor can avoid the use of high-pressure H 2 or corrosive formic acid, rendering the current process safe and environmentally friendly. 21,22 The selectivity of products strongly depended on the exposed facet.…”

Visible-light-driven amino acids production from biomass-based feedstocks over ultrathin CdS nanosheets

“…Indeed, photocatalysis has recently shown encouraging potentials in the valorization of biomass feedstocks 45 . Wang and co-workers 46 reported the photocatalytic coproduction of diesel precursors and hydrogen from biomass-derived furans using Ru-doped ZnIn 2 S 4 catalysts, alkane formation from fatty acid over Pt/TiO 2 photocatalysts 47 , as well as the production of methanol and syngas from bio-polyols and sugars 48 . Reisner and co-workers 49 studied the photocatalytic conversion of lignocellulose into H 2 over cadmium sulfide quantum dots.…”

Molecular H2O promoted catalytic bicarbonate reduction with methanol into formate over Pd0.5Cu0.5/C under mild hydrothermal conditions

“…17,18 Methanol (CH 3 OH) has wide application in chemical reactions, and can be easily produced from renewable sources such as biomass. 19 It has been reported that over 300 000 metric tons of methanol is annually produced from renewable resources in the United States. 20 Given that the functional group of -OH is stored in methanol, it can serve as a clean, efficient and renewable hydrogen source, which makes it a high-potential hydrogen source for HCO 3 − reduction.…”