Utilizing Imogolite Nanotubes as a Tunable Catalytic Material for the Selective Isomerization of Glucose to Fructose
Publisher:
The Ohio State UniversitySeries/Report no.:
The Ohio State University. William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Honors Theses; 2018Abstract:
The isomerization of glucose to fructose is an important step in the conversion of biomass to valuable fuels and chemicals. A key challenge for the isomerization reaction is achieving high selectivity towards fructose using recyclable and inexpensive catalysts. Imogolite is a single-walled aluminosilicate nanotube characterized by surface areas of 200-400 m2/g and pore widths near 1 nm. In this study, imogolite nanotubes are used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the isomerization of glucose to fructose. Catalytic testing demonstrates the catalytic activity of imogolite for the isomerization of glucose to fructose. Imogolite is a highly tunable structure and can be modified through substitution of Si with Ge or through functionalization of methyl groups to the inner surface. These modifications change the surface properties of the nanotubes and enable tuning of the catalytic performance. Aluminosilicate imogolite is the most active material for the conversion of glucose. Conversion of glucose of 30% and selectivity for fructose of 45% is achieved using aluminosilicate imogolite. Modification of imogolite with germanium or methyl groups decreases the conversion, but increases the selectivity. Generally, the selectivity for fructose decreases as the conversion of glucose increases. Interestingly, the imogolite nanotubes have comparable catalytic selectivity at similar conversion as base catalyzed reactions. Catalyst recycling experiments revealed that organic content accumulates on the nanotubes that results in a minor reduction in conversion while maintaining similar catalytic selectivity. Overall, imogolite nanotubes demonstrate an active and tunable catalytic platform for the isomerization of glucose to fructose.
Academic Major:
Academic Major: Chemical Engineering
Sponsors:
American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS-PRF 55946-DNI5)
National Science Foundation (NSF CBET 1605037; 1653587 and NSF CBET REU 1645126)
Ohio State University Institute of Materials Research (OSU IMR FG0138)
The Undergraduate Research Office and Office of Research
National Science Foundation (NSF CBET 1605037; 1653587 and NSF CBET REU 1645126)
Ohio State University Institute of Materials Research (OSU IMR FG0138)
The Undergraduate Research Office and Office of Research
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