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- Acid-modified clays as green catalysts for the hydrolysis of hemicellulosic oligosaccharidesPublication . Vilcocq, Léa; Spínola, Vítor; Moniz, Patrícia; Duarte, Luís C.; Carvalheiro, Florbela; Fernandes, César; Castilho, PaulaThe hydrolysis of hemicellulosic oligosaccharides (OS) was investigated using acid-activated clays (prepared from natural Porto Santo montmorillonite clay) as catalysts. Acid activation was performed in HCl solution or with aluminium exchange. The clay catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption isotherms, CEC, FTIR, titration of acid sites in water and adsorption of sugars and disaccharides. They were tested for the hydrolysis of a model compound, maltose, and of OS-rich liquor from rice straw fractionation. The HCl-activated clays were the most efficient catalysts for maltose hydrolysis. It was demonstrated that the hydrolysis of OS into monomer sugars over a clay catalyst is technically feasible and that this reaction leads to the selective removal of glucose, arabinose and acetic acid side groups from the OS structure, thus yielding simpler xylo-oligosaccharide chains. Furthermore, no significant conversion of monomer sugars into furans was observed.
- Porosity in ion-exchanged and acid activated clays evaluated using n-nonane pre-adsorptionPublication . Ribeiro Carrott, M.M.L.; Cansado, I.P.P.; Carrott, P.J.M.; Russo, P.A.; Castilho, P.; Fernandes, C.; Catrinescu, C.; Breen, C.The applicability of the n-nonane pre-adsorption method for characterising the porosity in clays is presented. Na-SD, a Naþ-exchanged purified bentonite, and materials obtained by Al3þ-exchange and acid treatments of Na-SD and SAz-1 were used. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms, at 196 C, were determined before and after n-nonane pre-adsorption on each of the samples. In all materials, n-nonane remained adsorbed in ultramicropores after outgassing at 25 C. Outgassing at higher temperatures (50, 75 and 200 C) removed nonane and ultramicropores became available for nitrogen adsorption. All treatments on Na-SD led to increase in micropore volume. Larger ultramicropore and supermicropore volumes were obtained for Na-SD acid activated with HCl at 95 C than for treatments at 25 C with HCl or following Al3þ-exchange (Al-SD), and increased with increasing acid concentration to 3 M. Activation with 4 M HCl led to the largest pore volume with contribution from mesopores. However, the specific external surface area was the same as that obtained for Na-SD, Al-SD and for most of the other acid activated samples. Treatments at 95 C with 1 M and 6 M HCl promoted increase in specific external surface area. The micropore volumes and specific external surface area for SAz-1 treated with 1 M HCl at 95 C were larger than those of Al-SAz-1, but lower than those obtained for corresponding materials derived from Na-SD. The n-nonane pre-adsorption method enabled micropore volumes and specific external surface areas to be obtained for all samples.
- A variable-temperature diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy study of the binding of water and pyridine to the surface of acid-activated metakaolinPublication . Belver, Carolina; Breen, Christopher; Clegg, Francis; Fernandes, César E.; Vicente, Miguel A.Four metakaolins were prepared by heating a Spanish kaolin at 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C for 10 h. Following preliminary optimization, these metakaolins were acid activated in 6 M hydrochloric acid at 90 °C for 6 h; the samples calcined at 600, 700, and 800 °C produced the highest surface area solids and were selected for further study. Variable-temperature diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy analysis of the resulting acid-activated metakaolins (AAMKs) identified a wide range of hydrogen bond strengths in adsorbed water at room temperature. Above 300 °C it was possible to fit the broad hydroxyl stretching band to seven contributing components at 3730, 3700, 3655, 3615, 3583, 3424, and 3325 cm-1. As the sample temperature was increased, the 3730 cm-1 band increased in intensity as the water hydrogen bonded to AlOHAl was thermally desorbed. The other six bands decreased in intensity. The spectra of adsorbed pyridine indicated the presence of both Bro¨nsted and Lewis acid sites on the surface of the air-dried AAMKs. Preheating the AAMK at 200 °C prior to pyridine sorption reduced the number of Bro¨nsted acid sites and increased the number of thermally stable Lewis acid sites. A reduction in the amount of adsorbed pyridine after pretreating the AAMK at 400 °C was tentatively attributed to a reduction in surface area. This was reflected in fewer thermally stable Lewis acid sites in the AAMK pretreated at 400 °C compared to the number present in the sample pretreated at 200 °C.
- Selective methoxylation of limonene over ion-exchanged and acid-activated claysPublication . Catrinescu, C.; Fernandes, C.; Castilho, P.; Breen, C.; Carrott, M.M.L. Ribeiro; Cansado, I.P.P.In this study, we report the use of clay-based catalysts in the methoxylation of limonene, for the selective synthesis of -terpinyl methyl ether. Na-SAz-1, Ca-SWy-2 and Sap-Ca source clays and a montmorillonite (SD) from Porto Santo,Madeira Archipelago, Portugal weremodified by (i) ion-exchange with Al, Fe, Ni and Na and (ii) acid activation, to produce catalysts with markedly different acidic and textural properties. The lack of activity of Ni2+-SAz-1 (with Lewis acidity maximized), provided evidence that the process occurs preferentially on Brönsted acid sites. The catalysts based on the high layer-charge SAz-1 montmorillonite proved to be the most active. Ion-exchange with Al3+, followed by thermal activation at 150 ◦C, afforded the highest number of Brønsted acid sites located in the clay gallery and this coincided with the maximum catalytic activity. The influence of various reaction conditions, to maximize limonene conversion and selectivity, was studied over Al-SAz-1. When the reaction was performed for 20 h at 40◦ C, the conversion reached 71% with 91% selectivity to the mono-ether. Mild acid activation (1 M HCl, 30 min, reflux) of the raw SAz-1 clay leads to a material with a good catalytic behaviour (slightly inferior to Al-SAz-1), while any increase in the severity of the acid-treatment (6 M HCl, 30 min, reflux), caused a marked decrease in catalytic activity.
- Catalytic conversion of limonene over acid activated Serra de Dentro (SD) bentonitePublication . Fernandes, C.; Catrinescu, C.; Castilho, P.; Russo, P. A.; Carrott, M. R.; Breen, C.A series of acid-activated clay catalysts were prepared from a purified bentonite, rich in structural iron, collected at Serra de Dentro on the island of Porto Santo. The purified bentonite exhibited a surface area of 130 m2 g 1 which increased to values as high as 500 m2 g 1 following activation with 4M HCl at 95 8C for 30 min (SD-4M-95-30). The ability of the activated samples to convert limonene to p-cymene was evaluated using a reaction time of 15 min at 80 8C. The sample prepared using 3M HCl at 95 8C for 30 min (SD-3M-95-30) offered the optimum combination of surface area (470 m2 g 1 ) and acidity (0.26 mmol g 1 ) and 95% of the limonene was converted to product. About 15% of the product mixture was p-cymene whilst non-volatile products and polymeric species made up 54% of the product mixture. The presence of iron in the octahedral sheet of the SD bentonite appears responsible for the dehydrogenation activity. TG–MS analysis of acid activated samples, saturated with cyclohexylamine, reflected the dehydrogenation capabilities of the catalysts in that SD-3M-95-30 produced the most benzene and aniline as decomposition/ transformation products.
- Influence of exchange cations on the catalytic conversion of limonene over Serra de Dentro (SD) and SAz-1 clays: correlations between acidity and catalytic activity/selectivityPublication . Catrinescu, C.; Fernandes, César; Castilho, P.; Breen, C.A bentonite collected at Serra de Dentro (SD), Porto Santo Island, Portugal, and the source clay SAz-1 (Cheto, Arizona) were ion-exchanged with different cations (Al3+, Ni2+, Cr3+ and Na+ ). Variable temperature diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (VT-DRIFTS) of pyridine treated samples, thermal desorption of cyclohexylamine and real time mass spectrometry of the evolved gases were used to evaluate the acidic properties of the prepared catalysts. The catalytic activity of these ion-exchanged clays was tested in the acid-catalysed conversion of limonene at 150 8C, to yield isomerization products (terpinolene, a-terpinene, g-terpinene and isoterpinolene), disproportionation products ( p cymene and p-menthenes) and high molecular-weight compounds. The possibility of increasing the selectivity toward p-cymene, over a catalyst with substantial Lewis acid character, was particularly envisaged. Catalysts derived from SD were significantly more active than their SAz-1 counterparts. This was mainly attributed to the greater inherent acidity, to the higher structural iron content (providing dehydrogenation activity) and to the higher nitrogen surface area of the starting SD clays. Within the Mn+ -SD series, the order of activity decreased as Ni2+ > Al3+ > Cr3+ > Na+ . A direct comparison between Al3+-SD (with maximized Bro¨nsted acidity) and Ni2+-SD (with predominant Lewis acid character) provided no support for enhanced p-cymene production over Lewis acid sites.
- Selective methoxylation of α-pinene to α-terpinyl methyl ether over Al3+ ion-exchanged claysPublication . Catrinescu, C.; Fernandes, C.; Castilho, P.; Breen, C.In this study, we report the use of clay-based catalysts in the methoxylation of -pinene, for the selective synthesis of -terpinyl methyl ether, TME. The main reaction products and intermediates were identified by GC–MS. The reaction conditions (stirring rate and catalystload)that afford a kinetic regime were estab lished. SAz-1 (Cheto, Arizona, USA) source clay and a montmorillonite (SD) from Porto Santo, Madeira Archipelago, Portugal, were modified by ion-exchange with Al3+ to produce catalysts with markedly different acidities and textural properties. The catalysts based on the high layer-charge SAz-1 montmo rillonite proved to be the most active. Ion-exchange with Al3+, followed by thermal activation at 150 ◦C, afforded the highest number of Brønsted acid sites – a significant proportion of which were located in the clay gallery – and this coincided with the maximum catalytic activity. The influence of various reac tion conditions, to maximize -pinene conversion and selectivity, was studied over AlSAz-1. When the reaction was performed for 1 h at 60 ◦C, the conversion reached 65% with 65% selectivity towards the mono-ether, TME. Similar conversions and selectivities required up to 50 h over zeolites and other solid acid catalysts. The kinetic dependencies of this reaction on temperature and reagent concentration, over the selected clays were also investigated. It was established that, in the temperature and reagent con centration regime studied, the reaction was first order with respect to -pinene. The apparent activation energies over the two catalysts, calculated from Arrhenius plots, were almost identical at 72 kJ mol−1.
- Argilas modificadas como catalisadores ácidos sólidosPublication . Fernandes, César EsmeraldoImportant bentonitic deposits are present in Porto Santo Island, part of the Madeira Archipelago. Several locations were selected and samples were collected and characterised. The bentonite obtained at Serra de Dentro (SD) was selected for further laboratorial work. The fine fraction of SD bentonite was purified using several methods and the sodium homoionic form was prepared. This was the starting material used in the three generic types of modifications: metal exchange, acid activation and pillaring. These modifications produce materials with markedly different acidic (e.g. Brönsted and/or Lewis acidity), textural (e.g. increase of the surface area and active site accessibility) or structural (e.g. creation of permanent porous structures) properties. The wide range of materials obtained (including reference clays counterparts) was characterised in terms of chemical, structural, textural and catalytic properties. Limonene is an important raw material produced in Portugal, and its aromatisation reaction was chosen for the catalytic characterisation of the clay catalysts prepared.
- Calcium phosphate-mediated gene delivery using simulated body fluid (SBF)Publication . Nouri, Alireza; Castro, Rita; Santos, José L.; Fernandes, César; Rodrigues, João; Tomás, HelenaThe present study aimed at developing a new approach in gene delivery of calcium phosphate nanoparticles through simulated body fluid (CaP-SBF). The physicochemical and biological characteristics of the CaP-SBF nanoparticles were compared with those made in pure water (CaP-water) via a similar procedure. The CaP-SBF and CaP-water solutions were then adjusted to two different pH values of 7.4 and 8.0, mixed with plasmid DNA (pDNA), and added in varying amounts to human embryonic kidney (HEK 293T) cells. The transfection efficiency and cell viability were studied in vitro by reporter gene (luciferase and Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein) expression and the resazurin reduction assay, respectively, 24 and 48 h after the incubation with the nanoparticles. Our results indicated considerably high in vitro transfection efficiency for CaP-SBF/DNA complexes at physiological pH (7.4) with high amounts of CaP. Additionally, the SBF solution exhibited the ability to reduce the rapid growth of CaP particles over time, leading to higher transfection efficiency of CaP-SBF/DNA complexes than those made in water (CaP-water/DNA).