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Synthesis of Acrylonitrile from Renewable Lactic Acid
Author(s) -
Mack Daniel,
Schätzle Sabrina,
Traa Yvonne,
Klemm Elias
Publication year - 2019
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.201802914
Subject(s) - acrylonitrile , selectivity , chemistry , monomer , biomass (ecology) , lactic acid , renewable resource , organic chemistry , polymer , renewable energy , catalysis , copolymer , bacteria , oceanography , engineering , biology , electrical engineering , genetics , geology
Abstract Acrylonitrile (ACN) is widely used as monomer in the synthesis of polymers and carbon fibers. Nowadays, its production is based on fossil resources. Herein, an alternative process based on renewable resources is presented. Lactic acid (LA), which can be obtained by fermentation of biomass, was converted to ACN in two steps with an overall selectivity of 57 %. In the first step, a direct amidation of LA in the presence of water was conducted at 230 °C. Zeolites can catalyze the formation of lactamide, and a selectivity of 92 % was reached at 33 % conversion with NH 4 ‐ZSM‐5. In the second step, the dehydration of lactamide to ACN was performed with acetic anhydride, and an ACN selectivity of 62 % was achieved at full conversion.