Ordered and Disordered Metal Oxide for Biomass Conversion

Biomass-derived compounds, such as sugars, are complex molecules. Their conversion into commodity chemicals has attracted considerable attention in the field of sustainable chemistry. Acid-base properties of transition metal oxides are successfully exploited for biomass valorization. This chapter presents detailed kinetic and spectroscopic studies of the active sites on highly ordered (Sn-Beta zeolite) and disordered (Nb2O5·nH2O, TiO2) metal oxides for biomass conversion. Structure-activity relationships revealed strong similarities amongst the active sites of these materials, despite fundamental differences in the textural properties. Understanding the structure and function of these active sites at the molecular level prompts us to establish a new concept of catalyst design and/or to design highly efficient reaction systems.