Biomass is an important feedstock for the renewable production of fuels, chemicals, and energy. As of 2005, over 3% of the total energy consumption in the United States was supplied by biomass, and it recently surpassed hydroelectric energy as the largest domestic source of renewable energy. Similarly, the European Union received 66.1% of its renewable energy from biomass, which thus surpassed the total combined contribution from hydropower, wind power, geothermal energy, and solar power. In addition to energy, the production of chemicals from biomass is also essential; indeed, the only renewable source of liquid transportation fuels is currently obtained from biomass.

The Catalytic Valorization of Lignin for the Production of Renewable Chemicals

2.5. Stabilization of IL Emulsions by Nanoparticles 2623 3. Hydrogenations in ILs 2623 3.1. Hydrogenation on IL-Stabilized Nanoparticles 2623 3.1.1. Hydrogenation of 1,3-Butadiene 2623 3.1.2. Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Arenes 2624 3.1.3. Hydrogenation of Ketones 2624 3.2. Homogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation in ILs 2624 3.3. Hydrogenation of Functionalized ILs 2625 3.3.1. Selective Hydrogenation of Polymers 2625 3.4. Asymmetric Hydrogenations 2626 3.4.1. Enantioselective Hydrogenation 2626 3.5. Role of the ILs Purity in Hydrogenation Reactions 2628

Catalysis in ionic liquids

and Fuels Changzhi Li,† Xiaochen Zhao,† Aiqin Wang,† George W. Huber,†,‡ and Tao Zhang*,† †State Key Laborotary of Catalysis, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China ‡Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of WisconsinMadison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States

Catalytic Transformation of Lignin for the Production of Chemicals and Fuels

http://www.loewenlabs.com/peter/wp-content/themes/atahualpa/Manuscripts/BA_29_675.pdf

Biomass pretreatment: fundamentals toward application

This review gives a survey on the latest most representative developments and progress concerning ionic liquids, from their fundamental properties to their applications in catalytic processes. It also highlights their emerging use for biomass treatment and transformation.

Ionic liquids and catalysis: Recent progress from knowledge to applications

This study examined the application of select ionic liquids (ILs) as aprotic green solvents for lignin. Dissolution experiments were carried out employing lignin isolated from pine kraft pulp. Up to 20 wt% lignin could be dissolved in [hmim][CF3SO3], [mmim][MeSO4] and [bmim][MeSO4]. For the [bmim]+‐containing ionic liquids, the order of lignin solubility for varying anions was: [MeSO4]−>Cl−∼Br−⋙[PF6]−, indicating that the solubility of lignin was principally influenced by the nature of the anions. Ionic liquids containing large, non‐coordinating anions [PF4]− and [PF6]− were unsuitable as a solvent for lignin. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses of lignin and model compounds showed that 13C signals using ionic liquid as a solvent were shifted up‐field by δ 0.1 to 1.9 ppm in comparison to 13C NMR data acquired using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the solvent.

Ionic Liquid as a Green Solvent for Lignin

Aerobic Alcohol Oxidation. An efficient four-component system consisting of acetamido-TEMPO/Cu(ClO4)2/TMDP/DABCO in DMSO has been developed for room-temperature aerobic alcohol oxidation. Under the optimal conditions, various alcohols could be converted into their corresponding aldehydes or ketones in good to excellent yields. The newly developed catalytic system could also be recycled and reused for three runs without any significant loss of catalytic activity.

Cu(II)-catalyzed selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes in Ionic Liquid [bmpy]PF6

Selective aerobic oxidation of activated primary alcohols into acids or aldehydes has been developed in ionic liquids. Under optimal conditions, various alcohols could be selectively converted into their corresponding acids or aldehydes in good to excellent yields. The newly developed catalytic systems could also be recycled and reused for three runs without any significant loss of catalytic activity.

Nan Jiang

Papers

Ionic Liquid as a Green Solvent for Lignin

Cu(II)-catalyzed selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes in Ionic Liquid [bmpy]PF6

Selective aerobic oxidation of activated alcohols into acids or aldehydes in ionic liquids.

Vanadium-catalyzed selective aerobic alcohol oxidation in ionic liquid [bmim]PF6