Search for: All records

aims: Processing of cellulose can be used to produce value added renewable feedstock chemicals. background: Catalytic depolymerization and processing of cellulose can be used to produce value added renewable feedstock chemicals. objective: Development of an acidic ionic liquid - metal ion chloride catalyst system based single-reactor method for processing cellulose to value added products. method: The effect of metal chlorides as co-catalysts on 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride acidic ionic liquid catalyzed degradation of cellulose in 40 % (v/v) aq. ethanol was studied by measuring levulinic acid, ethyl levulinate and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural yields. result: In experiments with Mn(II), Zn(II) chloride co-catalysts at 160 and 170 °C for 12 h, the initial yields of ethyl levulinate and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural improved from ~ 7 % to ~ 12-15% due to co-catalytic effects. The highest enhancements in ethyl levulinate yields were observed with CrCl3, where the yield increased from 6 to 27 % with the addition of 10 mol% co-catalyst. conclusion: All three transition metal chlorides studied produced improvements in yields of secondary products, ethyl levulinate and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in acidic ionic liquid catalyzed degradation of cellulose in aqueous ethanol. The most significant enhancements in ethyl levulinate yields were observed with CrCl3 as a co-catalyst. other: none