The current acid-catalyzed conversion of biomass feedstocks yields substantial quantities of undesired by-products called humins, for which applications are yet to be found. This work aims to provide a starting point for valorisation of humins via preparation of humin-based iron oxide catalytic nanocomposites from humins and thermally treated humins (foams) via solvent-free methodologies including ball milling and thermal degradation. The prepared materials were found to be active in the microwave-assisted selective oxidation of isoeugenol (conversions >87%) to vanillin, proving the feasibility to use humin by-products as template/composite materials.

中文翻译：

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人为设计的腐殖质基氧化铁催化纳米复合材料的制备

当前生物质原料的酸催化转化产生大量不期望的称为腐殖质的副产物，尚未发现其用途。这项工作旨在为通过从球果和经热处理的球果（泡沫）中通过球磨和热降解等无溶剂方法制得的克分子为基础的氧化铁催化纳米复合材料提供一个从价的起点。发现所制备的材料在异丁香酚的微波辅助选择性氧化（转化率> 87％）为香兰素中具有活性，证明了将腐殖质副产物用作模板/复合材料的可行性。