Sn-doped hydroxylated MgF₂ catalysts for the fast and selective saccharification of cellulose to glucose.

TIN, TAILORED, NOT SOLDER, BUT CAT: Doped hydroxylated fluorides, prepared by a modified sol-gel method, offer enhanced acidity and improved stability against water, and efficiency in the degradation of cellulose. These materials extend the portfolio of acid catalysts for fast and selective hydrolysis of biomass to glucose, which offers a feedstock for bioethanol production.

Involvement of cyan and ester groups in surface interactions of aerosil-cyanophenyl alkyl benzoate systems with high silica density: Infrared investigations.

Composites prepared from aerosil A380 and liquid crystals (LCs) of 4-n-alkyl-4'-cyanophenyl benzoate type, with four to six carbon atoms in the alkyl chain were investigated by infrared spectroscopy. Their high silica content (of 2-7 g aerosil/1 g of LC) was given by thermogravimetric investigations and allows the observation of a rather thin LC layer on the silica particles. Several surface species onto the external surface of the grains were demonstrated.