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From Lignocellulosic Biomass to Lactic‐ and Glycolic‐Acid Oligomers: A Gram‐Scale Microwave‐Assisted Protocol
Author(s) -
Carnaroglio Diego,
Tabasso Silvia,
Kwasek Beata,
Bogdal Dariusz,
Gaudino Emanuela Calcio,
Cravotto Giancarlo
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201403183
Subject(s) - depolymerization , glycolic acid , lignocellulosic biomass , commodity chemicals , biomass (ecology) , lactic acid , catalysis , biodegradable polymer , chemistry , pulp and paper industry , lignin , organic chemistry , materials science , polymer , geology , oceanography , biology , bacteria , engineering , genetics
The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into platform chemicals is the key step in the valorization of agricultural waste. Of the biomass‐derived platform chemicals currently produced, lactic acid plays a particularly pivotal role in modern biorefineries as it is a versatile commodity chemical and building block for the synthesis of biodegradable polymers. Microwave‐assisted processes that furnish lactic acid avoid harsh depolymerization conditions while cutting down reaction time and energy consumption. We herein report a flash catalytic conversion (2 min) of lignocellulosic biomass into lactic and glycolic acids under microwave irradiation. The batch procedure was successfully adapted to a microwave‐assisted flow process (35 mL min −1 ), with the aim of designing a scalable process with higher productivity. The C2 and C4 units recovered from the depolymerization were directly used as the starting material for a solvent and catalyst‐free microwave‐assisted polycondensation that afforded oligomers in good yields.