Sustainable Biomass Conversion to Biofuel: Recyclable Nanoporous Lignin-Derived Cryogel Incorporated with H3PW12O40-Nb2O5 for Levulinic Acid Production
摘要
The increasing demand for renewable energy sources has highlighted the importance of levulinic acid (LA), a versatile compound used in biofuels, lubricants, and various biorefinery processes. Efficiently converting biomass into LA is crucial to meet this demand, requiring effective catalysts that facilitate hydrolysis, dehydration, isomerization, and hydration reactions. This study investigates the use of a recyclable nanoporous lignin-derived cryogel incorporated with H₃PW₁₂O₄₀-Nb₂O₅ as a catalyst for LA production. The nanoporous structure enhances catalyst performance by improving the interaction between biomass substrates and the catalyst, reducing the leaching of active sites, and facilitating better mass transfer of reactants and products. These features contribute to higher reaction efficiency and catalyst reusability. The cryogel’s thermal stability and mechanical strength enable it to withstand harsh conversion conditions, making it a sustainable and economically viable option. Experimental results show that the carbon cryogel catalyst maintains high efficiency over multiple cycles, with an 85% efficiency after four cycles and 52% after eight cycles. XPS, EDX, and RAMAN analyses indicate that the cryogel retains its structural integrity and catalytic activity despite slight chemical changes. This paper underscores the potential of nanoporous cryogels to enhance biomass conversion processes, promote catalyst regeneration, and support green chemistry by improving the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of LA production.