Biomass-based production of trimellitic and trimesic acids

Lin Yuan; Yancheng Hu; Guangyi Li; Fengan Han; Aiqin Wang; Yu Cong; Tao Zhang; Feng Wang; Ning Li

Green Energy & Environment (Aug 2024)

Biomass-based production of trimellitic and trimesic acids

Lin Yuan,
Yancheng Hu,
Guangyi Li,
Fengan Han,
Aiqin Wang,
Yu Cong,
Tao Zhang,
Feng Wang,
Ning Li

Affiliations

Lin Yuan: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
Yancheng Hu: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding authors.
Guangyi Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
Fengan Han: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
Aiqin Wang: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
Yu Cong: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
Tao Zhang: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
Feng Wang: State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China; Corresponding authors.
Ning Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 8
pp. 1267 – 1278

Abstract

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The production of industrial chemicals with renewable biomass feedstock holds potential to aid the world in pursuing a carbon-neutral society. Trimellitic and trimesic acids are important commodity chemicals in industry that are prepared by the oxidation of petroleum-derived trimethylbenzene. To reduce the dependence on the limited oil source, we develop a potential sustainable alternative towards trimellitic and trimesic acids using biomass-based 2-methyl-2,4-pentandiol (MPD), acrylate and crotonaldehyde as starting materials. The process for trimellitic acid includes dehydration/D-A reaction of MPD and acrylate, flow aromatization over Pd/C catalyst, hydrolysis and catalytic aerobic oxidation (60% overall yield). The challenging regioselectivity issue of D-A reaction is tackled by a matched combination of temperature and deep eutectic solvent ChCl/HCO2H. Crotonaldehyde can also participate in the reaction, followed by Pd/C-catalyzed decarbonylation/dehydrogenation and oxidation to provide trimesic acid in 54% overall yield. Life cycle assessment implies that compared to conventional fossil process, our biomass-based routes present a potential in reducing carbon emissions.

Published in Green Energy & Environment

ISSN: 2468-0257 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery: Renewable energy sources; Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/green-energy-and-environment/

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