Toward a rational control of solid acid catalysis for green synthesis and biomass conversion

Design of solid acid catalysts is one of the key technologies to establish environmental friendly catalytic processes. Featuring cation-exchanged clay and metal salts of heteropolyacids as model solid acid catalysts, a strategy for design of active catalysts for green chemical and biomass conversion processes is discussed. The important role of solid Lewis acids was suggested in acetylation of alcohols with acetic anhydride by cation-exchanged clay, Friedel-Crafts acylation and alkylation of aromatic compounds with metal salts of heteropolyacids, and hydrolysis of cellulose into saccharides. The significant influence of reactor design and reaction conditions on dehydration of saccharides into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is also discussed.