Catalytic upgrading of biomass is a challenging task in part because of the presence of water. Many conventional catalysts were developed for petroleum-based feedstocks. Often these catalysts are unstable in the presence of water. Water can be detrimental to the catalyst by changing the physical structure and integrity of catalysts. Water may also block active sites responsible for upgrading. We have discovered that the addition of lanthanum to a ZrO2 catalyst significantly enhances the catalytic activity for the ketonization of organic acids and improves the stability of the material even in the presence of hydrothermal (condensed aqueous) environments.
With the help of EMSLs surface characterization capabilities such as HRSTEM, XPS, and APT, this proposed work will develop an understanding of how La modifies the physicochemical properties of the solvent-active catalyst interface. A computational model will be built to identify these key physicochemical properties and will be used as a tool to identify possible new materials with similar properties. In summary, determining the mechanism and physicochemical properties that provide hydrothermal stability to our catalyst system will guide the development of new catalytic materials and new catalyst applications for systems involving hydrothermal environments.