Title:Catalytic Conversion of Biorenewable Sugar Feedstocks into Market Chemicals
VOLUME: 21 ISSUE: 9
Author(s):Gary Diamond, Alfred Hagemeyer*, Vince Murphy and Valery Sokolovskii
Affiliation:Rennovia, Inc., 3040 Oakmead Village Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051, Rennovia, Inc., 3040 Oakmead Village Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051, Rennovia, Inc., 3040 Oakmead Village Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051, Rennovia, Inc., 3040 Oakmead Village Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Keywords:Hydrogenolysis, glucaric acid, aerobic oxidation, hydrothermal conditions, polymer, chemical catalysis, adipic
acid.
Abstract:The transformation of low cost sugar feedstocks into market chemicals and monomers for
existing or novel high performance polymers by chemical catalysis is reviewed. Emphasis is given to
industrially relevant, continuous flow, trickle bed processes. Since long-term catalyst stability under
hydrothermal conditions is an important issue to be addressed in liquid phase catalysis using
carbohydrate feedstocks, we will primarily discuss the results of catalytic performance for prolonged
times on stream. In particular, the selective aerobic oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid and the
subsequent selective hydrogenation to adipic acid is reviewed. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF),
which is readily available from fructose, can be upgraded by oxidation to furan dicarboxylic acid
(FDCA) or by consecutive reduction and hydrogenolysis to hexanetriol (HTO) followed by
hydrogenolysis to biobased hexanediol (HDO). Direct amination of HDO yields biobased
hexamethylene diamine (HMDA). Aerobic oxidation of HDO represents an alternative route to
biobased adipic acid. HMDA and adipic acid are the monomers required for the production of nylon-
6,6, a major polymer for engineering and fibre applications.
