IN-SITU MAGIC ANGLE SPINNING NMR INVESTIGATIONS ON CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF BIOGENIC MOLECULES IN THE PRESENCE OF AQUEOUS WATER

The catalyzed conversion of biomass to hydrocarbon energy carriers requires a cascade of reactions that deconstruct and reduce the polymeric, highly oxofunctionalized biomass material. While lignin is the most intractable component of lignocellulose, its conversion to useful products is key in this catalytic chemistry, because the carbon in lignin is the most reduced one in lignocellulose. This chemistry faces steep challenges, as most of the reactions have to be performed in an aqueous environment under conditions that are highly corrosive towards catalysts. The anticipated scale of the transformations demands that the complex catalysts involved be highly efficient, stable, regenerable, and economically viable catalysts. Currently, none of the known heterogeneous solid catalysts meets these requirements. In order to develop new catalysts satisfying these requirements, a fundamental understanding of the active centers, reaction intermediates and reaction dynamics/kinetics associated with the multi-step conversion of biomass/biomass components, or biomass related polar molecules, i.e., the precursor molecules to fuels, on multifunctional catalytic surfaces is critically needed.