OBTAINING HIGH-VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS FROM CELLULOSE: IMPACT OF CELLULOSE TREATMENT WITH HYDROTALCITES IN HYDROTHERMAL CATALYTIC CONVERSION

Identifier:  TFM:179

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM179

Authors:  Guarín Villegas, Carlos Andres

Abstract:
The development of platform chemicals from biomass arises as an alternative for the sustainable progress of the chemical industry. With this in mind, the conversion of cellulose to value added products such as lactic acid using hydrotalcites (HT) as catalyst was investigated. Mg-Al hydrotalcites were used as catalyst for the hydrolysis of cellulose into lactic, acetic, formic and glycolic acids. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, ESEM and BET surface area analysis. The best conversion yield of up to 30% with selectivity was obtained over calcined hydrotalcites at 400°C after being synthesized in aqueous medium at pH 10. Finally, a reaction route is proposed to illustrate the cellulose transformation.