Selective conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid via microwave-assisted synthesis in ionic liquids

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-02, Vol.129, p.616-619
• Main Authors: Ren, Huifang, Zhou, Yonggui, Liu, Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anions; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Catalysis; Catalytic activity; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose - radiation effects; Conversion; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ionic liquids; Ionic Liquids - chemistry; Ionic Liquids - radiation effects; Levulinic acid; Levulinic Acids - chemical synthesis; Levulinic Acids - radiation effects; Microwave; Microwaves; Radiation Dosage; Reuse; Synthesis
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.132

[Display omitted] ► SO3H-functionalized ILs selectively catalyzed cellulose conversion to levulinic acid. ► Microwave irradiation improved production of levulinic acid from cellulose. ► The highest yield of levulinic acid was 55.0%. ► Catalytic activities of SFILs depend on anions. ► Further esterification enabled product separation and SFIL recovery. A highly selective approach to produce levulinic acid from cellulose was developed via microwave-assisted synthesis in SO3H-functionalized ionic liquids (SFILs). The effects of reaction conditions and ionic liquid structures on the yield of levulinic acid have been investigated, where the highest yield of 55.0% was obtained. The catalytic activities of SFILs depend on the anions and decrease in the order: HSO4−>CH3SO3−>H2PO4−, which is in good agreement with their acidity order. The SFILs are efficient catalysts for cellulose conversion into levulinic acid and the subsequent esterification, which facilitates the separation of product and reuse of ionic liquids.