Nowadays, the decrease of worldwide fossil resources and the growing of environmental pollution make necessary the research of renewable resources. Biomass results a very promising alternative feedstock being abundant, cheap, widespread and precursor of several valuable products. Under this perspective, the valorization of model molecules, such as fructose and inulin, was investigated in order to obtain 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a valuable platform-chemical precursor of a wide range of bio-fuels, monomers and fine-chemicals. The reaction was carried out under very sustainable conditions, employing water as solvent, microwave heating and acid heterogeneous catalysts. Once investigated the valorization of model molecules, the study shifted to the integrated exploitation of real renewable resources, such as giant reed (Arundo donax L.), perennial grass of the agronomic industry. Giant reed was converted into C5 and C6 sugars, carrying out the reaction under microwave heating and mild conditions. The exploitation of giant reed was also carried out under harsher conditions, which allowed the synthesis of levulinic acid, considered, with HMF, one of the most important bio-based compounds by the US Department. Moreover, the GC-MS analysis of the liquid fraction underlined the presence in the mother liquor of lignin-source phenols, important antioxidant compounds.

Different catalytic approaches for an integrated valorization of renewable resources

S. Fulignati
;
C. Antonetti;D. Licursi;E. Ribechini;A. M. Raspolli Galletti
2018-01-01

Abstract

Nowadays, the decrease of worldwide fossil resources and the growing of environmental pollution make necessary the research of renewable resources. Biomass results a very promising alternative feedstock being abundant, cheap, widespread and precursor of several valuable products. Under this perspective, the valorization of model molecules, such as fructose and inulin, was investigated in order to obtain 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a valuable platform-chemical precursor of a wide range of bio-fuels, monomers and fine-chemicals. The reaction was carried out under very sustainable conditions, employing water as solvent, microwave heating and acid heterogeneous catalysts. Once investigated the valorization of model molecules, the study shifted to the integrated exploitation of real renewable resources, such as giant reed (Arundo donax L.), perennial grass of the agronomic industry. Giant reed was converted into C5 and C6 sugars, carrying out the reaction under microwave heating and mild conditions. The exploitation of giant reed was also carried out under harsher conditions, which allowed the synthesis of levulinic acid, considered, with HMF, one of the most important bio-based compounds by the US Department. Moreover, the GC-MS analysis of the liquid fraction underlined the presence in the mother liquor of lignin-source phenols, important antioxidant compounds.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/932025
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