Aluminum ion intercalation in mesoporous multilayer carbocatalysts promotes the conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

In this study, an efficient modification strategy was proposed by facile loading of trace aluminum ions and -toluene sulfonic acid (-TSA) in carbon materials to improve their catalytic activity. -TSA is then proven to regulate the carbonization process and promote the formation of mesoporous and multilayer structures. The hexa-coordinated aluminum structure is characterized by H-Al solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which serves as the Lewis-Brønsted acid site in carbocatalysts.

Biodiversity management of organic farming enhances agricultural sustainability.

Organic farming (OF) has been believed to be capable of curtailing some hazardous effects associated with chemical farming (CF). However, debates also exist on whether OF can feed a world with increasing human population. We hypothesized that some improvements on OF may produce adequate crops and reduce environmental pollutions from CF.