Hierarchical micro-mesoporous carbons were synthesized through the combination of soft templating and sol–gel process, which employed Pluronic F127 as soft template and glucose as carbon source. The obtained carbons were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and nitrogen adsorption/desorption for their morphology and textural properties, and then evaluated in the process of CO2 capture. The high specific surface area, large total pore volume and narrow pore size distribution could be easily obtained and tuned by this method. Moreover, the synthesized carbons were physically activated by CO2 to improve the CO2 adsorption capacity and effects of the activation temperature and activation time were systematically investigated. The specific surface area and the total pore volume of sample which was obtained under the optimal condition increased from 1413 m2/g and 1.02 cm3/g to 2543 m2/g and 2.21 cm3/g after CO2 activation. The sample also exhibited the value of CO2 adsorption varying from 2.32 mmol/g up to 3.60 mmol/g at 25 °C and 1.6 bar.

A series of Cu–Ca–Al hydrotalcite derived catalysts were prepared by the co-precipitation method. Their catalytic activities were evaluated in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, ICP, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD and H2-TPR. It was observed that the incorporation of calcium and aluminum in the Cu–Ca–Al catalyst improved the conversion of glycerol and promoted the generation of 1,3-PDO. This is due to the appropriate acidity and basicity of the catalyst, which is confirmed by NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD. The conversion of glycerol over the catalyst with a Cu–Ca–Al mole ratio of 1:3:5 was up to 73.2 % with 42.6 % selectivity to 1,2-PDO and 9.1 % selectivity to 1,3-PDO. Effects of the reaction time, reaction temperature and initial hydrogen pressure on the conversion and selectivity were systematically investigated.

The Pt-bearing H3PW12O40 (PW) catalysts, promoted by Cr or La, supported on dealuminated USY zeolite were prepared and their catalytic activities were evaluated in the hydroisomerization of n-heptane with an atmospheric fixed-bed reactor. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, IR and H2-chemisorption. The results showed that the dealuminated USY support retained the Y zeolite structure and the PW well kept its Keggin structure in the supported PW catalysts and the doping of Cr or La into the catalysts enhanced the dispersion of Pt on the catalyst surface. The Pt-bearing PW catalysts doped with Cr or La, especially Cr, exhibited much higher catalytic activity and selectivity than the catalysts without dopants. Both the conversion and selectivity were discussed in relation with physicochemical properties of catalysts.