Issue 4, 2013

Direct conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid and gamma-valerolactone using solid acid catalysts

Abstract

Cellulose was converted with high yield (69%) to levulinic acid (LA) using Amberlyst 70 as the catalyst and using a solution of 90 wt% gamma-valerolactone (GVL) and 10 wt% water as the solvent, compared to the low yield of 20% obtained in water. The LA was upgraded to GVL without any neutralization or purification steps due to the solubilization of humins by the GVL solvent. High LA yields (54%) were also obtained from real biomass (corn stover).

Graphical abstract: Direct conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid and gamma-valerolactone using solid acid catalysts

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
05 Oct 2012
Accepted
30 Nov 2012
First published
30 Nov 2012

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2013,3, 927-931

Direct conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid and gamma-valerolactone using solid acid catalysts

D. M. Alonso, J. M. R. Gallo, M. A. Mellmer, S. G. Wettstein and J. A. Dumesic, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2013, 3, 927 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20689G

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