Title : Thermochemical conversion of biomass: probing oligomeric intermediates with online high-resolution mass spectrometry
Abstract:
Liquid-phase heterogeneous catalysis reactions are fundamentally important in fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy conversion, and material synthesis. Catalytic conversion of biomass in liquid-phase is a typical one, involving solid catalysts, high temperature, high pressure, and complex products distribution. Intermediates are important fulcrum in the reaction network and hold the key to decipher the mechanisms involved in heterogeneous catalysis, but the measurement of such intermediates under operando conditions is challenging. In this presentation, we will introduce a versatile and efficient technique, named reactor-integrated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (R-ESI MS), for operando probing intermediates in heterogeneous catalytic conversion of biomass conducted at high-pressure and liquid-phase conditions. Compared with traditional “cook-and-look” methods based on chromatography, the technique of R-ESI MS does not need any sample collection, pretreatment, transmission, and chromatographic separation steps, mitigating any risk of sample loss during sampling handling. It holds the unique advantage in direct and real-time measurement of products, especially heavy intermediates, under harsh reaction conditions. Furthermore, this methodology is developed on a commercial MS platform, and no specialized equipment is necessary, which is intended to provide a basis for wider applications in catalysis studies and may lead to more rapid discoveries of new catalysts.
Audience Take Away:
• Reactor-integrated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for liquid-phase heterogeneous catalytic reactions.
• Recent progress in mechanistic investigation of lignin degradation via probing oligomeric intermediates.
• Potential of investigating heterogeneous catalytic reactions with online high-resolution mass spectrometry.
