Hypercrosslinked microporous polymer sorbents for the efficient recycling of a soluble acid catalyst in cellulose hydrolysis
File(s)manuscript-sympletic.pdf (526.6 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Woodward, Robert T
Kessler, Martin
Lima, Sergio
Rinaldi, Roberto
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Difficulties in the recycling of soluble acid catalysts within the lignocellulosic biorefinery constitute a serious issue to the sustainability of cellulose hydrolysis and several other transformations. Herein, we demonstrate a simple and effective method for the removal and recovery of p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) employed as a replacement of H2SO4 in the saccharification of cellulose by a mechanocatalytic route. p-TSA is recovered from its diluted aqueous solutions using a non-expensive hypercrosslinked polymer adsorbent. In a batch process, around 97% p-TSA acid was removed from a 5 mM solution after exposure to the hypercrosslinked polymer. Notably, a flow-through process was able to selectively remove the catalyst completely from even lower initial concentrations. Importantly, the efficient recovery of the p-TSA is achieved by washing the spent polymer with methanol. In the purification of a stream derived from the saccharification of cellulose, the extraction of p-TSA catalyst in addition to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural was also achieved. With the rational choice of solvents, p-TSA and furfurals were separately recovered. In the broader context, the current findings represent a step forward towards the acid management from the acid-catalyzed saccharification of cellulose. Moreover, this approach is conducive for the purification of sugars for bioconversion in which even low levels of furfurals may exert a strong inhibitory effect upon yeast cultures.
Date Issued
2018-05-21
Date Acceptance
2018-04-25
Citation
Green Chemistry, 2018, 20 (10), pp.2374-2381
ISSN
1463-9262
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
2374
End Page
2381
Journal / Book Title
Green Chemistry
Volume
20
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2018.
Sponsor
European Research Council
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000435867600022&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
ERC Consolidator Grant 2016
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
MECHANOCATALYTIC DEPOLYMERIZATION
LIGNOCELLULOSE
BIOMASS
SUGARS
HEMICELLULOSE
FRACTIONATION
ADSORPTION
CONVERSION
REMOVAL
CAPTURE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-04-25