Hierarchical Meso-Zr-Al-beta zeolites are successfully prepared through a multiple-step post-synthesis strategy composed of controlled dealumination, desilicication and metal incorporation. The presence of both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites with a certain extent of strength in Meso-Zr-Al-beta is demonstrated by NH₃-TPD and FTIR spectroscopy with pyridine adsorption/desorption. The creation of mesopores via desilicication through alkaline treatment is confirmed by N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms. Meso-Zr-Al-beta, with Brønsted acid sites, Lewis acid sites and mesopores, is applied as a zeolite catalyst for the cascade conversion of biomass platform molecule furfural to γ-valerolactone. Owing to the presence of multiple functional sites and their mutual compatibility, remarkable activity for γ-valerolactone production and catalyst recyclability could be achieved with a single Meso-Zr-Al-beta, which appears to be a better catalyst than the commonly-employed combination catalyst systems. The multifunctional Meso-Zr-Al-beta zeolite is also applied as a promising catalyst in other cascade reactions in biomass valorization, i.e. glucose conversion to 5-hydromethylfurfural and trioses conversion to ethyl lactate. Similar zeolite catalysts containing multiple functional sites could be prepared via similar routes, and the number of acid sites and their strength can be adjusted to some extent to derive an optimized catalyst by changing the preparation parameters.

中文翻译：

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Meso-Zr-Al-β沸石是生物质平衡中级联反应的强力催化剂

通过控制脱铝，脱硅和金属结合的多步后合成策略，成功制备了分级Meso-Zr-Al-β沸石。NH ₃ -TPD和带吡啶吸附/解吸的FTIR光谱证明了Meso-Zr-Al-β中Brønsted和Lewis酸位均具有一定程度的强度。N ₂证实了通过碱处理的脱硅作用而形成的中孔吸附/解吸等温线。具有布朗斯台德酸位，路易斯酸位和中孔的Meso-Zr-Al-β被用作沸石催化剂，用于将生物质平台分子糠醛级联转化为γ-戊内酯。由于存在多个官能位及其相互相容性，单一的Meso-Zr-Al-beta可以实现显着的γ-戊内酯生产活性和催化剂可循环利用性，这似乎是一种比常用组合更好的催化剂催化剂体系。多功能的Meso-Zr-Al-β沸石还可以用作生物质平衡中其他级联反应的有前途的催化剂，例如葡萄糖转化为5-氢甲基糠醛和三糖转化为乳酸乙酯。可以通过相似的方法制备包含多个功能位点的相似的沸石催化剂，