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Title: Efficient dual acidic carbo-catalyst for one-pot conversion of carbohydrates to levulinic acid

Journal Article · · RSC Advances
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra18513d· OSTI ID:1388587
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Delhi, New Delhi (India). Lab. of Catalysis, Dept. of Chemistry; Indian Inst. of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur (India). Dept. of Chemistry
  2. Indian Inst. of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur (India). Dept. of Chemistry
  3. Univ. of Delhi, New Delhi (India). Lab. of Catalysis, Dept. of Chemistry; Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States). Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation
+ Show Author Affiliations

Levulinic acid (LA) is an important platform intermediate for several high value renewable bioproducts. One-pot synthesis of LA from carbohydrates is disadvantaged by the lack of proximity of the active sites required for sequential isomerization, dehydration and rehydration reactions. Herein, we report an efficient one-pot conversion of C6 sugars to LA using a carbo-catalyst (ZrHyC), containing Lewis acidic zirconium and Brønsted acidic carboxyl and hydroxyl sites. The proximity of the two acid sites on a hydrothermally prepared carbon support makes the catalyst highly effective enabling a maximum 73% LA yield from glucose conversion. Fructose conversion achieved a higher LA yield (89%) because of a facile reaction without involving an isomerization step. The effects of solvents, the glucose to catalyst ratio, and the reaction time on glucose conversion and LA yield are systemically examined. Detailed characterization of the catalyst using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, XRD, FESEM and NH3-TPD techniques are presented to elucidate the presence of the two acid sites and zirconium in the +4 oxidation state.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001004
OSTI ID:
1388587
Journal Information:
RSC Advances, Vol. 6, Issue 102; Related Information: CCEI partners with the University of Delaware (lead); Brookhaven National Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Columbia University; University of Delaware; Lehigh University; University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Minnesota; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University; Rutgers University; ISSN 2046-2069
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (2)

Efficient utilization of potash alum as a green catalyst for production of furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and levulinic acid from mono-sugars journal January 2017
Topotactic transformation of homogeneous phosphotungastomolybdic acid materials to heterogeneous solid acid catalyst for carbohydrate conversion to alkyl methylfurfural and alkyl levulinate journal January 2020

Figures / Tables (12)

Scheme 1(p. 2)figure Scheme 1
Fig. 1(p. 4)figure Fig. 1
Fig. 2(p. 4)figure Fig. 2
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Fig. 5(p. 6)figure Fig. 5
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Fig. 10(p. 7)figure Fig. 10
Fig. 8(p. 7)figure Fig. 8
Fig. 9(p. 7)figure Fig. 9
Scheme 2(p. 8)figure Scheme 2

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Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
09 BIOMASS FUELS
catalysis (homogeneous)
catalysis (heterogeneous)
biofuels (including algae and biomass)
bio-inspired
hydrogen and fuel cells
materials and chemistry by design
synthesis (novel materials)
synthesis (self-assembly)
synthesis (scalable processing)