Chiew Lin Yap

The integration of phosphotungstic acid and niobium oxide forms a bifunctional catalyst that demonstrates an interplay between Brønsted-Lowry and Lewis acid which is able to provide a synergistic effect for the conversion of biomass to LA. This bifunctional acid catalyst shows a higher yield of levulinic acid (LA) (16.4%) as compared to that of sole phosphotungstic acid (10.5%) or niobium oxide (13.2%), presumably caused by a higher selectivity at the tandem steps of the conversion reaction. The bifunctional catalyst was then doped to a lignin-derived carbon cryogel to mitigate the deactivation and leaching of the catalysts. The durability and thermal stability of the carbon cryogel allow the catalyst to recycle up to 3 times while retaining similar performance.

Information about the paper titled "TRANSITION IN EMERGENCY: ESTABLISHING DSGL FOR TEACHING FOUNDATION PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY VIA THE PLANNING-TEACHING-REFLECTING CYCLE DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN" at IATED Digital Library

This study investigates the kinetics of depolymerisation reaction of oil palm mesocarp fiber biomass conversion to levulinic acid via Bronsted-Lewis acidic ionic liquids catalyst. An eco-friendly catalyst was developed by coupling Lewis acid indium trichloride with a noncorrosive acidic mono-alkylated ionic liquids, 1-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, for the production of levulinic acid in a greener perspective. The kinetic experiments were conducted at mild temperatures ranged from 135 to 175°C at varying time of 1.5 to 5h. A kinetic model based on the pseudo first-order reaction was established to describe the behaviour of catalytic LA production. The activation energy of the depolymerisation reaction was calculated to be 61.8 kJ mol^-1, which is comparatively lower than the previous reported values via various catalytic means of LA production from various biomass feedstock.