Depolymerization of microcrystalline cellulose to value added chemicals using sulfate ion promoted zirconia catalyst.
The transformation of lignocellulosic biomass to value added chemicals in a synergetic effect of sulfated zirconia (SZ) catalyst and ionic liquid was found to effectively depolymerize microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to sugars and dehydrate sugars to 5-hydroxylmethylfurfural (5-HMF) and levulinic acid (LA). SZ was catalyst synthesized by wet impregnation method with predetermined concentration of sulphuric acid and then characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), BET-surface area analyzer, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (Ammonia-TPD). SZ catalyst was effective in depolymerizing MCC yielding a maximum of total reducing sugar (TRS) of 57% (38% glucose and 14% fructose), 9.5% LA and 5.1 of 5-HMF at a temperature of 180°C and 3h of depolymerization time. In addition, SZ was tested for dehydration of glucose and fructose and a yield of 26% and 62% of 5-HMF were obtained, respectively.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India.
Samuel
S
Kassaye
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India.
Chetan
C
Pagar
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India. Electronic address: kkpant@chemical.iitd.ac.in.
Kamal K
KK
Pant
Department of Physical Science, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA.
Sapna
S
Jain
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India.
Rajat
R
Gupta
D018533:Biomass; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
D002241:Carbohydrates; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D007982:Levulinic Acids; D013431:Sulfates; D002482:Cellulose; D015040:Zirconium; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose; C032246:levulinic acid; C028541:zirconium oxide
Depolymerization; Ionic liquid; Microcrystalline cellulose; Sulfated zirconia