Biochar based catalysts for biomass valorization

The research investigates different biochars derived from various biomasses, such as hazelnut shells, artichoke wastes, rice husks, and tannery by-products, which are abundantly available in Italy. The selected biomasses differ in their chemical composition, with hazelnut, artichoke, and rice being rich in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, while tannery wastes contain collagen and tannins. The biochars, after activation, exhibits various advantageous properties for supporting the dispersion of metal nanoparticles, such as high porosity, large surface area, stability at high temperatures, and tunable surface functional groups. These properties are strongly dependent on the biomass source. The study explores the combination of biochar supports with a metallic active phase, such as Pd, and evaluates the properties of the resulting catalysts. Their performance in hydrogenation reactions using model molecules like benzaldehyde and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is assessed.