Alloyed Cu−Ni encapsulated in carbon was prepared by loading Ni and Cu onto biochar (BC) through an initial wetness impregnation method under mild conditions. The bimetallic catalysts were exploited to perform selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of 5-hydroxy­methyl­furfural (HMF). 2,5-Dimethyl­furfural (DMF), a promising liquid fuel/fuel additive, could be obtained from HMF with the highest yield of 93.5% under the optimized conditions. During HMF HDO, two key intermediates, 5-methyl­furfural (MFF) and 2,5-dihydroxy­methyl­furan (DHMF), dominating two distinct conversion pathways were systematically investigated by Arrhenius kinetics analysis. In addition, the turnover frequencies (TOFs) of HDO reaction over Cu−Ni/BC corresponding with Cu amount were thoroughly discussed, finding that the electron transfer from Cu to Ni in the alloy structure was beneficial to the HDO reaction and the conversion pathways can be regulated by reaction temperature variation. Importantly, the synergy of HDO of HMF by alloyed Cu−Ni metal and Lewis acid sites from oxide NiO x were hence clarified by systematic catalyst characterizations. The Cu−Ni/BC catalyst is stable for at least five consecutive runs to obtain the stabilized 81.9% of DMF since the third run.

Honeysuckle has antiviral, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is induced by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated inflammatory reaction. Our study investigates whether honeysuckle extract (HE) has therapeutic effect on AR. An AR model of mice was established by ovalbumin (OVA). Hematoxylin–Eosin staining was used to assess nasal mucosa damage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine serum histamine, IgE and interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) from nasal lavage fluid. Western blot was carried out to analyze the protein level from nasal mucosa tissue. We found that HE not only decreased nasal rubbing and sneezing in AR mice, but also reduced AR-induced damage to nasal mucosa. Moreover, HE lowered the levels of serum IgE and histamine and inhibited IL-4 and IL-17 levels from AR mice but raised IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in AR-induced nasal lavage fluid. Our results also showed that HE elevated the protein levels of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and T-box transcription factor (T-bet) in AR-induced nasal mucosa tissue, whereas it inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) protein levels. By regulating AR-induced inflammatory reaction and autoimmune response, HE also relieved OVA-induced AR. Thus, HE could be used as a potential drug to treat AR.

Biomass-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) is an ideal, renewable gasoline additive, and its production with high productivity is highly desirable. A continuous production route was developed to yield DMF from fructose via a tandem strategy, where dehydration catalysts (HY zeolite and niobium phosphate) assisted by 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMim]Cl) and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalyst Cu−Ru/C were integrated into one reaction system with γ-butyrolactone (GBL) as the mobile phase. Optimum conditions, such as temperature, H 2 pressure, weight hourly space velocity, and [BMim]Cl concentration, were investigated systematically, with an initial HDO study by using 5hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) as substrate and subsequent tandem dehydration and HDO to produce DMF with fructose as substrate. Among the conditions, the highest yield of DMF at 55.2% was gained by niobium phosphate and Cu−Ru/C, with the aid of [BMim]Cl in a fixed bed. Meanwhile, [BMim]Cl facilitated fructose dehydration to HMF and also mediated HDO of the resultant HMF by stabilization, which was clarified by 1 H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Finally, the fact that carbon deposit led to catalyst deactivation was examined thoroughly via a series of characterization techniques. This work achieved continuous DMF production from fructose and laid a foundation for future possible amplification of DMF.