A (super)critical transfer: The consecutive hydrogenolysis and hydrogenation of the lignin model compound dihydrobenzofuran was studied in supercritical methanolic solutions using porous metal oxide catalysts. These catalysts promote H(2) production from methanol followed by hydrogenolysis of the ether linkages and reduction of the aromatic rings, leading principally to a mixture of cyclohexanols.
Described are new solid base catalysts for transesterification of seed oil triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters, a key step in biodiesel production. These were prepared by substituting Fe3+ ions substitute for a fraction of the Al3+ ions in the Mg/Al layered double hydroxide lattices of hydrotalcites (HTC) and calcining to give porous metal oxides (PMOs). These iron-doped PMOs are much stronger bases than those derived from undoped or Ga3+ doped HTCs and are effective catalysts for the methanol transesterification of triacetin (glycerol triacetate) and of soybean oil.
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