title: Catalytic Hydrotreatment of Humins in Mixtures of Formic Acid/2-Propanol with Supported Ruthenium Catalysts.
abstract: The catalytic hydrotreatment of humins, which are the solid byproducts from the conversion of C6 sugars (glucose, fructose) into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and levulinic acid (LA), by using supported ruthenium catalysts has been investigated. Reactions were carried out in a batch setup at elevated temperatures (400 °C) by using a hydrogen donor (formic acid (FA) in isopropanol (IPA) or hydrogen gas), with humins obtained from d-glucose. Humin conversions of up to 69 % were achieved with Ru/C and FA, whereas the performance for Ru on alumina was slightly poorer (59 % humin conversion). Humin oils were characterized by using a range of analytical techniques (GC, GC-MS, GCxGC, gel permeation chromatography) and were shown to consist of monomers, mainly alkyl phenolics (>45 % based on compounds detectable by GC) and higher oligomers. A reaction network for the reaction is proposed based on structural proposals for humins and the main reaction products.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, ENTEG, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yuehu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, ENTEG, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, ENTEG, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kloekhorst
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, ENTEG, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. h.j.heeres@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Hero Jan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heeres
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006812:Humic Substances; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D006812:Humic Substances; C001861:humin; C030544:formic acid; D012428:Ruthenium; D006859:Hydrogen; D019840:2-Propanol
keywords: biomass; heterogeneous catalysis; ruthenium; supported catalysts; synthesis design