Highly Active CoO-Based Catalysts for Total Oxidation of Light C1-C3 Alkanes Prepared by a Simple Soft Chemistry Method: Effect of the Heat-Treatment Temperature and Mixture of Alkanes.

In the present work, a simple soft chemistry method was employed to prepare cobalt mixed oxide (CoO) materials, which have shown remarkably high activity in the heterogeneously catalyzed total oxidation of low reactive VOCs such as the light alkanes propane, ethane, and methane. The optimal heat-treatment temperature of the catalysts was shown to depend on the reactivity of the alkane studied. The catalytic activity of the CoO catalysts was found to be as high as that of the most effective catalysts based on noble metals.

Low temperature conversion of levulinic acid into γ-valerolactone using Zn to generate hydrogen from water and nickel catalysts supported on sepiolite.

In the present article, γ-valerolactone has been obtained from levulinic acid with a yield exceeding 25% using very mild conditions without feeding hydrogen (30 °C, atmospheric pressure, water as the hydrogen source). The overall reaction conducted is a two-step process: first, a redox reaction involving the oxidation of metallic Zn to ZnO for hydrogen production through the water splitting reaction and, second, a catalytic reaction involving Ni-supported catalysts for the production of γ-valerolactone from levulinic acid. Ni active sites have been supported on sepiolite, an abundant and cheap material.

Easy Method for the Transformation of Levulinic Acid into Gamma-Valerolactone Using a Nickel Catalyst Derived from Nanocasted Nickel Oxide.

Different nickel catalysts have been tested for the transformation of levulinic acid into γ-valerolactone using an easy hydrothermal method, taking advantage of the properties of the high temperature water. A metallic nickel catalyst derived from NiO synthesized by a nanocasting procedure can achieve a productivity to γ-valerolactone, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that obtained by a commercial nickel catalyst. This nanocasted metallic nickel catalyst has shown bifunctionality as it is capable of activating water as the source for hydrogen and undertaking the further hydrogenation step.

Ferric sludge derived from the process of water purification as an efficient catalyst and/or support for the removal of volatile organic compounds.

Ferric chloride solutions are used as coagulants or flocculants in water treatment operations for human consumption. This treatment produces large amounts of clay-type solids formed mainly of montmorillonite with iron oxides and humic substances. This ferric sludge can be used as an efficient catalyst for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by total oxidation.

Eco-Friendly Cavity-Containing Iron Oxides Prepared by Mild Routes as Very Efficient Catalysts for the Total Oxidation of VOCs.

Iron oxides (FeOx) are non-toxic, non-expensive and environmentally friendly compounds, which makes them good candidates for many industrial applications, among them catalysis. In the present article five catalysts based on FeOx were synthesized by mild routes: hydrothermal in subcritical and supercritical conditions (Fe-HT, Few200, Few450) and solvothermal (Fe-ST1 and Fe-ST2). The catalytic activity of these catalysts was studied for the total oxidation of toluene using very demanding conditions with high space velocities and including water and CO₂ in the feed.