Insights into the Relationship between the Microstructure and the Catalytic Behavior of Fe2(MoO4)3 during the Ethanolysis of Naomaohu Coal

Ting Liu; Xuesong Sun; Yakun Tang; Yue Zhang; Jingmei Liu; Xiaodong Zhou; Xiaohui Li; Lang Liu

doi:10.3390/molecules28186595

Molecules (Sep 2023)

Insights into the Relationship between the Microstructure and the Catalytic Behavior of Fe2(MoO4)3 during the Ethanolysis of Naomaohu Coal

Ting Liu,
Xuesong Sun,
Yakun Tang,
Yue Zhang,
Jingmei Liu,
Xiaodong Zhou,
Xiaohui Li,
Lang Liu

Affiliations

Ting Liu: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Xuesong Sun: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Yakun Tang: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Yue Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Jingmei Liu: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Xiaodong Zhou: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Xiaohui Li: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Lang Liu: State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186595
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28, no. 18
p. 6595

Abstract

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Ethanolysis is an effective method to depolymerize weak bonds in lignite under mild conditions, which can result in the production of high-value-added chemicals. However, improving ethanolysis yield and regulating its resulting product distribution is a big challenge. Hence, exploiting highly active catalysts is vital. In this work, Fe2(MoO4)3 catalysts with zero-dimensional nanoparticles, one-dimensional (1D) nanorods, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, and three-dimensional (3D) nanoflower structures were successfully prepared and applied in the ethanolysis of Naomaohu coal. The results showed that for all samples, the yield of ethanol-soluble portions (ESP) was significantly improved. The highest yield was obtained for the Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods, with an increase from 28.84% to 47.68%, and could be attributed to the fact that the Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods had a higher number of exposed active (100) facets. In addition, the amounts of oxygen-containing compounds, such as ethers, esters, and phenols, increased significantly. The mechanism of ethanolysis catalyzed by the Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods was also studied using phenylbenzyl ether (BOB) as a model compound. BOB was completely converted at 260 °C after 2 h. It is suggested that Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods can effectively break the C-O bonds of coal macromolecules, thus promoting the conversion of coal.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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