Highly selective catalytic propylene glycol synthesis from alkyl lactate over copper on silica: Performance and mechanism

Biologically synthesized crude calcium lactate as a substrate for propylene glycol production

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated that LA can be reduced to PG on Cu-Si catalysts under mild conditions. [12][13][14][15][16][17] Cortright et al 12 showed that it was possible to produce PG with high yields via the vapour-phase hydrogenation of biomassderived LA over Cu/SiO 2 catalysts. Copper-containing catalysts (copper chromite, copper-zinc hydroxysilicate and copper hydroxysilicate) exhibit high activity, due to the formation of stable, highly-dispersed particles of metallic copper during preliminary reduction.…”

NbF5–AlF3 Catalysts: Design, Synthesis, and Application in Lactic Acid Synthesis from Cellulose

“…the synthesis of alkyl lactates, which can be used as environmentally benign solvents 4 ) but its polymerization to poly(lactic) acid, a biodegradable polymer, is another promising and rapidly growing application. [4][5][6][7][8] It may also find applications in a much wider range of industries that is the case today for the polymer industry (through its dehydration to acrylic acid, an industrially important monomer) 9 and in domestic area (the production of propylene glycol, a non-toxic antifreeze 6 ).…”

Direct conversion of cellulose to α-hydroxy acids (AHAs) over Nb2O5-SiO2-coated magnetic nanoparticles

“…Moreover, its polymerization to biodegradable poly(lactic) acid is one of the most promising and rapidly growing application [6]. However, its current relatively high price precludes many of the applications listed above, because it is produced almost exclusively through the fermentation of sugars, a process that generates a significant amount of wastes [7].…”