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Chemocatalytic Conversion of Cellulosic Biomass to Methyl Glycolate, Ethylene Glycol, and Ethanol
Author(s) -
Xu Gang,
Wang Aiqin,
Pang Jifeng,
Zhao Xiaochen,
Xu Jinming,
Lei Nian,
Wang Jia,
Zheng Mingyuan,
Yin Jianzhong,
Zhang Tao
Publication year - 2017
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.201601714
Subject(s) - cellulosic ethanol , ethylene glycol , cellulose , biomass (ecology) , chemistry , methanol , catalysis , ethanol , ethylene , biofuel , organic chemistry , renewable resource , renewable energy , renewable fuels , chemical engineering , fossil fuel , pulp and paper industry , waste management , oceanography , electrical engineering , engineering , geology
Production of chemicals and fuels from renewable cellulosic biomass is important for the creation of a sustainable society, and it critically relies on the development of new and efficient transformation routes starting from cellulose. Here, a chemocatalytic conversion route from cellulosic biomass to methyl glycolate (MG), ethylene glycol (EG), and ethanol (EtOH) is reported. By using a tungsten‐based catalyst, cellulose is converted into MG with a yield as high as 57.7 C % in a one‐pot reaction in methanol at 240 °C and 1 MPa O 2 , and the obtained MG can be easily separated by distillation. Afterwards, it can be nearly quantitatively converted to EG at 200 °C and to EtOH at 280 °C with a selectivity of 50 % through hydrogenation over a Cu/SiO 2 catalyst. By this approach, the fine chemical MG, the bulk chemical EG, and the fuel additive EtOH can all be efficiently produced from renewable cellulosic materials, thus providing a new pathway towards mitigating the dependence on fossil resources.