A1 Journal article (refereed)
Production of ethyl lactate by activated carbon-supported Sn and Zn oxide catalysts utilizing lignocellulosic side streams (2021)

Kupila, R., Lappalainen, K., Hu, T., Heponiemi, A., Bergna, D., & Lassi, U. (2021). Production of ethyl lactate by activated carbon-supported Sn and Zn oxide catalysts utilizing lignocellulosic side streams. Applied Catalysis A: General, 624, Article 118327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2021.118327

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kupila, Riikka; Lappalainen, Katja; Hu, Tao; Heponiemi, Anne; Bergna, Davide; Lassi, Ulla

Journal or series: Applied Catalysis A: General

ISSN: 0926-860X

eISSN: 1873-3875

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 624

Article number: 118327

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2021.118327

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77491

Abstract

In this study, activated carbon-supported Sn and Zn oxide catalysts were prepared from hydrolysis lignin and used for the conversion of model solutions of trioses, hexoses, and lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates to ethyl lactate. Both catalysts, SnO2@AC and ZnO@AC, were able to produce ethyl lactate in high yields. SnO2@AC was a more active and selective catalyst in triose (dihydroxyacetone) conversion, providing 99% yield to ethyl lactate. ZnO@AC, by contrast, was more selective in glucose and hydrolysate conversion, with a yield of 60% and 85%, respectively. The ethyl lactate yields were significantly higher than those from the optimized model solution experiments when using ZnO@AC catalyst. These findings indicate that milder acidity of the ZnO@AC catalyst together with Na+ and SO42- in hydrolysate favored ethyl lactate production, preventing byproduct, furan derivatives and acetal, formation. Moreover, the catalysts were able to maintain their catalytic activity in recycling experiments.

Keywords: chemical technology; lactates; catalysis; catalysts; activated carbon; biomass (industry); oxides; zinc oxide

Free keywords: activated carbon; heterogeneous catalyst; metal oxide; ethyl lactate; lignocellulosic biomass

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 2