Influence of Synthesis Methodology on the Properties and Catalytic Performance of Tin, Niobium, and Tin-Niobium Oxides in Fructose Conversion

Abstract

Pure and mixed oxides were synthesized using three methods, namely, coprecipitation, hydrothermal treatment using CTAB and Pechini treatment using glycerol, and investigated for the transformation of fructose, aiming to determine the influence of textural, structural, and acid-base properties on conversion and selectivity. All systems led to fructose conversion in an aqueous medium, and the factors that influenced the transformation were the textural and structural properties, as well as the number of acid sites present in the catalysts. The best conversions were observed using mixed oxides, highlighting SnNb (CTAB) and SnNb (GLY), showing the importance of the modulation of properties using the synthesis method. All systems were selective mainly for 5-HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) and, to a lesser extent, for the products of the retro-aldolic route, and this selectivity was preserved, regardless of the catalytic system used.