Stefano Chiaberge

Characterization of Bio‐oil from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Organic Waste by NMR Spectroscopy and FTICR Mass Spectrometry

Solid wastes of organic origins are potential feedstocks for the production of liquid biofuels, which could be suitable alternatives to fossil fuels for the transport and heating sectors, as well as for industrial use. By hydrothermal liquefaction, the wet biomass is partially transformed into a water-immiscible, oil-like organic matter called bio-oil. In this study, an integrated NMR spectroscopy/mass spectrometry approach has been developed for the characterization of the hydrothermal liquefaction of bio-oil at the molecular level. (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy were used for the identification of functional groups and gauging the aromatic carbon content in the mixture. GC-MS analysis revealed that the volatile fraction was rich in fatty acids, as well as in amides and esters. High-resolution Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) has been applied in a systematic way to fully categorize the bio-oil in terms of different classes of components, according to their molecular formulas. Most importantly, for the first time, by using this technique, and for the liquefaction bio-oil characterization in particular, FT-MS data have been used to develop a methodology for the determination of the aromatic versus aliphatic carbon and nitrogen content. It is well known that, because they resist hydrogenation and represent sources of polluting species, both aromatic molecules and nitrogen-containing species raise concerns for subsequent upgrading of bio-oil into a diesel-like fuel.

Preparation of N,N-Dialkylcarbamato Lanthanide Complexes by Extraction of Lanthanide Ions from Aqueous Solution into Hydrocarbons

Lanthanides are easily extracted as N,N-dibutylcarbamato complexes from aqueous solutions of their chlorides into heptane solutions of dibutylamine saturated with CO2. The products are recovered in high yields and are soluble in hydrocarbons. The derivatives [Ln(O2CNBu2)3]n [Ln = Nd (1), Eu (2), Tb (3)], [NH2Bu2]2[Ln4(CO3)(O2CNBu2)12] [Ln = Tb (4), Sm (5), Eu (6)], and [Sm4(CO3)(O2CNBu2)10], 7, have thus been obtained. The crystal and molecular structure of 4 has been solved; the samarium and europium complexes 5 and 6 were found to be isostructural. Mass spectra of the complexes 1-3, 4, and 7 (in MeCN/toluene) reveal that equilibria are present in solution. Compound 2 has been reacted in toluene with NHBz2 in the presence of CO2 affording [NH2Bz2][Eu(O2CNBz2)4], 8, through a ligand exchange process. By thermal treatment, 8 afforded [Eu(O2CNBz2)3]n, 9. With a similar procedure [Sm(O2CNBz2)3]n, 10, was obtained from 5. According to the photoluminescence study carried out on solid samples of 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8, the metal centered f-f transitions represent the only effective way to induce lanthanide luminescence in these complexes.

A Model Study to Unravel the Complexity of Bio-Oil from Organic Wastes.

Binary and ternary mixtures of cellulose, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and tripalmitin, as biomass reference compounds for carbohydrates, proteins and triglycerides, respectively, were treated under hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) conditions to describe the main reaction pathways involved in the process of bio-oil production from municipal organic wastes. Several analytical techniques (elemental analysis, GC-MS, atmospheric-pressure photo-ionisation high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, and 13 C cross-polarisation magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy) were used for the molecular-level characterisation of the resulting aqueous phase, solid residue and bio-oil, in particular. The main reaction pathways led to free fatty acids, fatty acid amides, 2,5-diketopiperazines and Maillard-type compounds as the main components of the bio-oil. The relationship of such compounds to the original components of the biomass was thus determined, which highlights the fate of the heteroatom-containing molecules in particular. Finally, the molecular composition of the bio-oils from our reference compounds was matched with that of the bio-oil from municipal organic waste biomass by comparing their high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectra, and we obtained a surprisingly high similarity. Hence, the ternary mixture acts as a reliable biomass model and is a powerful tool to clarify the degradation mechanisms that occur in the biomass under HTL treatment, with the ultimate goal to improve the HTL process itself by modulating the input of the organic starting matter and then the upgrading steps to bio-fuels.

Synthesis of Dithienocyclohexanones (DTCHs) as a Family of Building Blocks for π-Conjugated Compounds in Organic Electronics

The development and widespread application of organic electronic devices require the availability of simple and cost-effective suitable materials. In this study, the preparation of a new class of conjugated compounds on the basis of a dithienocyclohexanone (DTCH) core is reported. Several synthetic strategies for the preparation of dialkyl DTCH derivatives are explored, with special emphasis on the establishment of a sustainable synthetic access. Two successful synthetic pathways, both consisting of five steps, are identified: the first one featuring readily available 3-thiophenecarboxaldeyde and the second one 3-ethynylthiophene as the starting materials. Both procedures are characterized by reasonably high overall yields (over 30%) and remarkably low E factors (<400). Preliminary evidences of the use of such building blocks in the micellar Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions leading to promising molecular semiconductors are also given. Moreover, on a small molecule containing DTCH moiety, solar cell performance was investigated.