The use of new metal Catalysts in Biorefineries: Synthesis of gama-Valerolactones, N-Alkyl-Pyrrolidones and Phenols.

• Grant number: 13/17271-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Bender Burtoloso
• Grantee: Gustavo Metzker
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/24552-5 - Biomass lignin hydrogenolysis catalyzed by transition metals for phenols obtainment using formic acid as hydrogen source, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The present research project aims the use of sugarcane-derived biomass, more specifically the product of its acid hydrolysis, to obtain chemical products with high added value such as gama-valerolactones, pyrrolidones and compounds from lignin hydrogenolysis. For this purpose, metallic catalysts based on iron, nickel and ruthenium as well as formic acid as hydrogen/hydride source, will be employed (FA is a byproduct of the acid hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses). The choice of these metals is mainly due to: 1) Previous studies showing that FA is activated by these metals, which avoid the use of external sources of hydrogen and pressure; 2) lower cost compared to the metallic catalysts currently used in this type of chemistry (platinum, palladium, iridium); 3) the possibility of using mild reaction conditions (lower temperatures and pressures) in the proposed reactions. Not only model solutions (levulinic acid and formic acid) but also "real" solutions, coming from reactors where the acid hydrolysis of bagasse was performed, will be studied as a chemical and technological challenge. As results and perspectives, it is expected that the development of the chemistry of biomass will contribute to the better utilization of this renewable source of carbon and allow new chemical processes development (and if successful, technology transfer to industry).

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

METZKER, GUSTAVO; DIAS, RAFAEL M. P.; BURTOLOSO, ANTONIO C. B.. Iron-Catalyzed Reductive Amination from Levulinic and Formic Acid Aqueous Solutions: An Approach for the Selective Production of Pyrrolidones in Biorefinery Facilities. CHEMISTRYSELECT, v. 3, n. 2, p. 368-372, JAN 17 2018. (13/18009-4, 13/17271-7)

METZKER, GUSTAVO; BURTOLOSO, ANTONIO C. B.. Conversion of levulinic acid into gamma-valerolactone using Fe-3(CO)(12): mimicking a biorefinery setting by exploiting crude liquors from biomass acid hydrolysis. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, v. 51, n. 75, p. 14199-14202, 2015. (13/17271-7, 13/25504-1)

CHUI, MEGAN; METZKER, GUSTAVO; BERNT, CHRISTOPHER M.; TRAN, ANTHONY T.; BURTOLOSO, ANTONIO C. B.; FORD, PETER C.. Probing the Lignin Disassembly Pathways with Modified Catalysts Based on Cu-Doped Porous Metal Oxides. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, v. 5, n. 4, p. 3158-3169, APR 2017. (14/24552-5, 13/17271-7)