Production of levulinic acid and gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from cellulose using GVL as a solvent in biphasic systems

Abstract

Cellulose deconstruction at 428 K was studied in biphasic reaction systems consisting of GVL and aqueous solutions containing HCl (0.1-1.25 M) and a solute, such as salt or sugar. This biphasic system achieves high yields of levulinic and formic acids (e.g., 70%), and leads to complete solubilization of cellulose. The GVL solvent extracts the majority of the levulinic acid (e.g., greater than 75%), which can subsequently be converted to GVL over a carbon-supported Ru-Sn catalyst. This approach for cellulose conversion eliminates the need to separate the final product from the solvent, because the GVL product is the solvent. In addition, this approach eliminates the deposition of solid humin species in the cellulose deconstruction reactor, allowing these species to be collected and used for other processing options.

Targeted chemical upgrading of lignocellulosic biomass to platform molecules

“…It has been reported that GVL can solubilize the biomass while increasing acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and dehydration reaction rates without increasing furanic product degradation. 146,147 At 443 K, Alonso et al 119 obtained yields of furfural and levulinic acid of up to 56% and 61%, respectively, from corn stover with 0.1 M sulfuric acid in 80 wt% GVL and 20 wt% water in 1.5 hours. The advantage of this system is that furfural can be separated from the levulinic acid by distillation, or both molecules can be converted to GVL, itself a fuel precursor.…”

Hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over anatase-supported Ru catalysts: Effect of catalyst synthesis protocols on activity

“…Noble metal-based catalysts are most commonly and successfully employed, with Ru-based ones in particular showing high activity and selectivity to GVL [14,[18][19][20][21]. In addition to the nature of the active metal phase, the choice of support also has a large effect on catalyst performance, in particular on catalyst stability.…”

Eco-solvents – cluster-formation, surfactantless microemulsions and facilitated hydrotropy

“…g-Valerolactone (GVL) is another sugar-based eco-solvent that has attracted attention recently. [10][11][12][13][14] It can be produced at yields higher than 95% by the hydrogenation of levulinic acid 15,16 which can be derived from biomass. 17, 18 Horváth et al…”