@article {48784, title = {One-pot synthesized efficient molybdenum-niobium-oxide nanocatalyst for selective C-O and C-N coupling reactions at mild conditions}, journal = {Catalysis Communications}, volume = {183}, year = {2023}, month = {OCT}, pages = {106766}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

An efficient molybdenum-niobium-oxide nanomaterial was synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal method for selective C-O (glycerol ketalization) and C-N coupling (benzylamine oxidation) reactions. The catalytically favourable properties, such as defective metal sites, truncated surfaces, and uniform metal dispersion in the MoO3-Nb2O5 nanorods, calcined at 500 degrees C (MoNb OPS-5), were confirmed by Raman, HR-TEM, and STEM-EDX, respectively. Because of improved Lewis/Bronsted acidic strength, the MoNb OPS-5 catalyst showed higher activity in glycerol ketalization and benzylamine oxidation at mild conditions, giving superior selectivity to solketal (97\%) and dibenzylimine (99\%), respectively. The MoNb OPS-5 catalyst showed high structural stability and considerable good reusability efficacy.

}, keywords = {C-O and C-N coupling, Glycerol and benzylamine, Mo-Nb-O nanocatalyst, nanocatalysts, One-pot hydrothermal synthesis}, issn = {1566-7367}, doi = {10.1016/j.catcom.2023.106766}, author = {Kalbande, Pavan Narayan and Singh, Nittan and Swapna, Bhattu and Umbarkar, Shubhangi and Sudarsanam, Putla} } @article {49233, title = {Efficient glycolysis of used PET bottles into a high-quality valuable monomer using a shape-engineered MnO nanocatalyst}, journal = {CATALYSIS SCIENCE \& TECHNOLOGY}, volume = {14}, year = {2024}, month = {SEP }, type = {Journal Article}, keywords = {Catalyst, kinetics, Nanorods, Oxidation, Oxides, POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE), WASTE}, issn = {2044-4753}, doi = {10.1039/d4cy00823e}, author = {Swapna, Bhattu and Singh, Nittan and Patowary, Suranjana and Bharali, Pankaj and Madras, Giridhar and Sudarsanam, Putla} } @article {49223, title = {Selective synthesis of renewable diesel fuel precursors via C-C condensation of biomass-derived furans using a niobium oxide nanocatalyst}, journal = {ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY \& ENGINEERING}, volume = {12}, year = {2024}, month = {SEP }, pages = {15923-15934}, type = {Journal Article}, keywords = {2-Methylfuran, Catalysts, dehydration, NB2O5, RANGE ALKANES, solid acid, Valorization}, issn = {2168-0485}, doi = {10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c03886}, author = {Kumar, Mudavath Arun and Swapna, Bhattu and Kalbande, Pavan Narayan and Yalagandula, Lavanya and Singh, Satyapaul A. and Sudarsanam, Putla} } @article {48974, title = {Valorizing biomass waste glycerol to fuel additive at room temperature using a nanostructured WO3/Nb2O5 catalyst}, journal = {Catalysis Communications }, volume = {186}, year = {2024}, month = {JAN}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

We developed a nanostructured catalyst consisting of WO3 nanoparticles and Nb2O5 nanorods for efficient glycerol acetalization to produce a fuel additive (solketal) at room temperature. Particularly, the WO3/Nb2O5 nanocatalyst calcined at 400 degrees C (WO3/Nb2O5-4) contains W5+ species and optimum acid sites, which enhanced glycerol conversion (92.3\%) with 95.6\% of solketal selectivity at room temperature. The structure stability of the WO3/Nb2O5-4 catalyst during the reaction is showcased by hot-filtration study and XRD/XPS characterization. However, the inadequate regeneration of the Bronsted acid sites led to a gradual decrease in the recyclable activity of the WO3/Nb2O5-4 catalyst.

}, keywords = {Bronsted-Lewis acid sites, Fuel additive, Room-temperature glycerol acetalization, W5+species}, issn = {1566-7367}, doi = {10.1016/j.catcom.2023.106827}, author = {Putla, Suresh Babu and Subha, P. and Swapna, Bhattu and Singh, Nittan and Sudarsanam, Putla} } @article {49560, title = {Liquid phase nitration of benzene to nitrobenzene using a mesoporous MoO3/Nb2O5 nanocatalyst}, journal = {Catalysis Letters}, volume = {155}, year = {2025}, month = {APR}, pages = {141}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

This work reports the synthesis of a mesoporous MoO3/Nb2O5 catalyst by a facile co-precipitation method for the liquid phase nitration of benzene to nitrobenzene, which is a vital industrial reaction. Pristine Nb2O5 and MoO3/Nb2O5 nanocatalysts were characterized using various techniques, including powder XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption, Raman, SEM/TEM, pyridine FT-IR, and XPS. The MoO3/Nb2O5 catalyst (10 wt\% MoO3 with respect to Nb2O5) showed uniform dispersion of Mo and Nb species, higher amount of oxygen vacancies, and more Br \& oslash;nsted acid sites, resulting in a 90\% yield of nitrobenzene. In contrast, only 35 and 58\% yields were obtained in the case of commercial Nb2O5 and nanosized Nb2O5, respectively. The liquid phase nitration of benzene was carried out using commercial 65\% HNO3 as a nitrating agent without sulfuric acid. The mesoporous MoO3/Nb2O5 catalyst is structurally stable, as confirmed by the characterization of the spent catalyst. However, a gradual decrease in the yield of nitrobenzene was observed, which could be due to the leaching of MoO3 species from the catalyst surface.

}, keywords = {Benzene nitration, Bronsted acid sites, Mesoporous MoO3/Nb2O5 Catalyst, nitrobenzene, Uniform metal dispersion}, issn = {1011-372X}, doi = {10.1007/s10562-025-04981-2}, author = {Kalbande, Pavan Narayan and Swapna, Bhattu and Sudarsanam, Putla and Umbarkar, Shubhangi B.} }