title: From lignocellulosic biomass to lactic- and glycolic-acid oligomers: a gram-scale microwave-assisted protocol.
abstract: The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into platform chemicals is the key step in the valorization of agricultural waste. Of the biomass-derived platform chemicals currently produced, lactic acid plays a particularly pivotal role in modern biorefineries as it is a versatile commodity chemical and building block for the synthesis of biodegradable polymers. Microwave-assisted processes that furnish lactic acid avoid harsh depolymerization conditions while cutting down reaction time and energy consumption. We herein report a flash catalytic conversion (2 min) of lignocellulosic biomass into lactic and glycolic acids under microwave irradiation. The batch procedure was successfully adapted to a microwave-assisted flow process (35 mL min(-1) ), with the aim of designing a scalable process with higher productivity. The C2 and C4 units recovered from the depolymerization were directly used as the starting material for a solvent and catalyst-free microwave-assisted polycondensation that afforded oligomers in good yields.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco and Centre for Nanostructured interfaces and surfaces (NIS), University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin (Italy).
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Carnaroglio
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Tabasso
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Kwasek
authors: Dariusz
authors: D
authors: Bogdal
authors: Emanuela Calcio
authors: EC
authors: Gaudino
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Cravotto
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006016:Glycolates / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves
chemical_list: D006016:Glycolates; C031149:glycolic acid; C036909:lignocellulose; D008031:Lignin
keywords: PLGA; lactic and glycolic acids; lignocellulosic biomass; microwaves; waste valorization