A novel biomass-derived mesoporous bifunctional hybrid (FDCA-Hf) prepared by facile assembly of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with hafnium (Hf) was highly stable and active for the production of biofuels and valuable chemicals from bio-based compounds such as ketones, aldehydes and acidic oils via acid-base cooperative catalysis

Recently, Dr. Hu Li supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang designed and prepared a new porous and acid-base bifunctional hybrid (FDCA-Hf) by simple assembly of biomass-derived 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with hafnium (Hf) under template-free conditions. The resulting FDCA-Hf hybrid with mesopores centered at 6.9 nm, moderate surface area (365.8 m²/g) and acid-base couple sites (density: 0.51vs0.97 mmol/g, acid/base molar ratio: 0.53), could selectively catalyze the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of carbonyl compounds under mild reaction conditions (as low as 90 ºC in a short time of 1 h), especially of ethyl levulinate toγ-valerolactone, in quantitative yields (95-100%) and relatively higher reaction rate (e.g., turnover frequency: 2.28 h^-1) compared to other catalysts. Moreover, the efficient simultaneous (trans)esterification ofJatrophaoils with high acidic values to biodiesel (up to 98% yield) could also be achieved over FDCA-Hf with robust acid-base catalytic sites. The FDCA-Hf hybrid was highly stable due to the presence of robust metal-organic framework and could be resued with no decline in activity. Further studies demonstrated that the synergistic role of Lewis acid-base couple species (Hf⁴⁺–O^2–) and Brønsted acidic species (-OH) of FDCA-Hf contributed greatly to its pronounced catalytic activity.

Related results were published:

H Li , TT Yang,Zhen Fang*, Biomass-derived Mesoporous Hf-containing Hybrid for Efficient Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction at Low Temperatures.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental(IF 11.7),227, 79–89 (2018).

最近，国际学术期刊Applied Catalysis B: Environmental（第一署名单位为南京农业大学，第一作者为博士后李虎，通讯作者为方真教授）发表了生物燃料最新研究成果。

李虎博士通过简单的组装2,5-呋喃二甲酸（FDCA）和金属铪（Hf），制备出一种新型介孔双功能的混合物（FDCA-Hf），它高度稳定和活跃，可用于酸碱协同催化生物基化合物如酮，醛和高酸值油低温高效生产生物燃料和有价值的化学品。

详情可见：

H Li , TT Yang,Zhen Fang*, Biomass-derived Mesoporous Hf-containing Hybrid for Efficient Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction at Low Temperatures.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental(IF 11.7),227, 79–89 (2018).