Catalysis via Sol-Gel Acid Silicas: An Important Chemical Technology for 2nd Generation Biorefineries

Heterogeneously catalyzed processes using mesoporous acid silicas selectively afford many valued products from biomass components. The versatile nanochemistry of the sol-gel process allows to shape materials with catalytically attractive morphologies, as well as to further functionalize the inner meso-porosity with other active species affording nanocomposites suitable for consecutive reactions in one-pot. Using selected examples from recent chemical research, we identify an approach that will likely produce catalysts of enhanced performance, suitable for practical application.