Insights into the Hydrothermal Stability of ZSM-5 under Relevant Biomass Conversion Reaction Conditions

Zeolite catalysts used for the conversion of carbohydrates to renewable platform chemicals in the condensed phase are shown to be sensitive to the presence of inorganic salts which alter the zeolite surface chemistry. The presence of NaCl (0.07–37 wt %) enhances the hydrolysis of Si–O–Al bridges and the release of Al 3+ species that catalyze the conversion of glucose through homogeneous catalytic processes and obscure the apparent reactivity of the zeolite catalyst.