I want to work on the GVL production from biomass using an acid catalyst for biomass hydrolysis with a non-precious metal catalyst for the hydrogenation of derivatives to GVL. Most of the recent research on the catalytic transformation of biomass focused on one particular molecule conversion. Like cellulose to LA, or hemicellulose to LA and so on. As it mentioned in the previous literature. The low yields of levulinic acid from biomass originate mainly from (1) the polymerization of sugars during the conversion into levulinic acid (2) the fact that only the C6 sugar substrates (glucose unit) in cellulose and hemicelluloses (mannose and galactose units) can be potentially converted into levulinic acid via acid catalysis. The C5 sugar substrates (xylose and arabinose units) under the same conditions are mainly converted into furfural. What are the most critical parameters to develop specific conditions for the maximum conversion of biomass to LA in the selection of acid catalyst and hydrogenation catalyst?
In my view, screening literatures on such reaction is rquired to find out more information on the following issues.
The first issue should be clarified is the study thermodynamics of the converiosn of cellulose or hemicellulose to LA, glucos, and sugars and of the conversion of sugar to LA or furfural, etc. The reaction conditions (temperature, concentration, etc) for the maximum yield of LA can be achieved.
Second, the reaction condition for the C-C and C-O bond cleavage should be checked over various metal and acid catalysts.
We have published several papers this area (some attached).
1.
Metal-exchanged Magnetic b-Zeolites: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass-Derived Compounds to Platform Chemicals.
E. Y. C. Jorge, T. de M. Lima, C. G. S. Lima, L. Marchini, W. N. Castelblanco, D. G. Rivera, E. A. Urquieta-González, R. S. Varma and M. W. Paixão: Green Chem., 19, 3856-3868 (2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C7GC01178D
2.
Sustainable Pathway to Furanics from Biomass via Heterogeneous Organo-Catalysis.
S. Verma, R. B. Nasir Baig, M. N. Nadagouda, C. Len and R. S. Varma: Green Chem., 19, 164-168 (2017). DOI: 10.1039/C6GC02551J.
3.
Magnetic ZSM-5 Zeolite: A Selective Catalyst for the Valorization of Furfuryl Alcohol to g-Valerolactone, Alkyl Levulinates or Levulinic Acid.
T. M. Lima, C. G. S. Lima, A. K. Rathi, M. B. Gawande, J. Tuček, E. A. Urquieta-González, R. Zbořil, M. W. Paixão and R. S. Varma: Green Chem., 18, 5586-5593 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/C6GC01296E.
4.
Sustainable Strategy Utilizing Biomass: Visible Light-Mediated Synthesis of γ-Valerolactone.
S. Verma, R. B. Nasir Baig, M. N. Nadagouda and R. S. Varma: ChemCatChem, 8, 690-693 (2016) DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201501352. Cover Page.
Thanks @ Zhijie Wu @ Rajender S Varma . I believe the challenge to make GVL production sustainable is that, we need to find transformation mechanism in which carbohydrates ( starch, cellulose, maltose, sucrose, glucose and fructose ) all can directly convert into LA or its ester so we can achieve high yields of GVL production by hydrogenation from biomass.
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