Effect of Support on the Hydrogenation of Ethyl Lactate over Ruthenium Catalysts

Abstract

The hydrogenation of biomass-derived ethyl lactate was studied over several ruthenium catalysts. The effect of support (TiO2, SiO2, γ-Al2O3, NaY and active-carbon) on the catalytic performance was evaluated. The ruthenium catalysts were characterized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), N2 physisorption, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic performance of the ruthenium catalysts is dependent on the intrinsic property of the support. Ru/SiO2 was found to be an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of ethyl lactate to 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO).

Production of Lactic Acid/Lactates from Biomass and Their Catalytic Transformations to Commodities

“…The conversion of ethyl lactate was up to 98%, and the selectivity for 1,2-PDO was above 95% (10 h reaction time) (Table , entry 1) . Feng et al made an attempt to hydrogenate ethyl lactate over Ru catalysts supported on TiO 2 , SiO 2 , γ-Al 2 O 3 , NaY, and active carbon without addition of any promoters to simplify the catalyst preparation and thereby the cost of the process and found Ru/SiO 2 to be an efficient catalyst (Table , entry 4). , …”

“…Lactic acid or lactates can be converted to propylene glycol in the liquid phase over Ru catalysts with or without any promoters − ,,,− ,,,,, as well as over Co/SiO 2 or over Cu catalysts in the vapor phase. ,,,− Pd, Ni, and Fe on SiO 2 as catalysts were studied by Huang et al, and Co/SiO 2 was investigated by Huang et al and Xue et al , A novel method of lactic acid hydrogenation by syngas over Au/ZrO 2 was discovered by Lei et al All catalysts reported in the literature for lactic acid hydrogenation and lactate hydrogenolysis are summarized and presented respectively in Tables and Table .…”

“…Different solvents were reported to be used for dissolution of lactic acid and lactates: water, ,,, methanol, , ethanol, ,, 1,4-dioxane, ,, n -hexane, 2-propanol, , and 1-butanol . Solvent-free conditions were also tested. , …”

“…The aim of this review is to describe the research in the production of lactic acid from biomass and its transformation to commodity chemicals mainly since 2002. The following reactions will be discussed in detail: catalytic production of lactic acid or alkyl lactates using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts (section 2), catalytic transformation of lactic acid or alkyl lactates via hydrogenation to 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), − dehydrogenation to pyruvic acid, − dehydration to acrylic acid, − decarbonylation and decarboxylation to acetaldehyde, , condensation of lactic acid to 2,3-pentanedione, − …”

Bio-Based Chemicals from Renewable Biomass for Integrated Biorefineries

“…The addition of some additives such as boron, tin, and iron to Ru-based catalysts has been reported in the literature [265]. Feng et al [266] hydrogenated ethyl lactate with Ru catalysts over TiO 2 , SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , NaY, and active carbon and found Ru/SiO 2 to be an effective catalyst [266][267][268]. Xu et al [264] tested the Co/SiO 2 catalyst for liquid-phase hydrogenation of ethyl lactate.…”