Roles of acidic sites in alumina catalysts for efficient d-xylose conversion to lactic acid. Issue 24 (16th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kiatphuengporn, Sirapassorn; Junkaew, Anchalee; Luadthong, Chuleeporn; Thongratkaew, Sutarat; Yimsukanan, Chakrit; Songtawee, Siripit; Butburee, Teera; Khemthong, Pongtanawat; Namuangruk, Supawadee; Kunaseth, Manaschai; Faungnawakij, Kajornsak
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 22:Issue 24(2020)
• Page Start: 8572
• Page End: 8583
• Publication Date: 2020-10-16
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/d0gc02573a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : Active Lewis acid sites in γ-Al2 O3 promote the catalytic activity for lactic acid production from d -xylose. Abstract : This work investigated the conversion of d -xylose to lactic acid over heterogeneous Al2 O3 and ZSM-5 catalysts in aqueous solution. γ-Al2 O3, an abundant low cost catalyst, exhibited superior lactic acid yield (63 mol%) at 170 °C, compared to α-Al2 O3, ZSM-5 catalysts and the reported data in the literature so far. Our experiment suggested that the outstanding lactic acid yield could be attributed to the large specific surface area and the abundance of Lewis acid sites in γ-Al2 O3 . In contrast, furfural selectivity was significantly promoted in the catalyst free system and the ZSM-5 catalyst, which has abundant Brønsted acid sites, but lacks Lewis acid sites. The theoretical part revealed that reactive Lewis acid sites in γ-Al2 O3 and the solvent play important roles in the C–C bond activation and thermodynamic stability of the d -xylose to lactic acid pathway. The green catalytic system proposed in this work shows great potential as an alternative method for lactic acid production for future industrial application.