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Biobased process intensification in selective synthesis of γ-butyrolactone from succinic acid via synergistic palladium–copper bimetallic catalyst supported on alumina xerogel

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Abstract

Biomass-based processes are gaining importance for sustainable chemical industry. The economic aspects of products from valorization of succinic acid are important. Selective synthesis of γ-butyrolactone is challenging, and catalyst development is a stumbling block. The synergistic effect of palladium–copper supported on alumina xerogel is demonstrated to obtain higher yield of γ-butyrolactone during successive dehydration and hydrogenation of succinic acid. The catalytic performance studies were carried out in slurry batch reactor, and 2.5% Pd–2.5% Cu on alumina xerogel was found to be active, selective and reusable catalyst. The catalyst was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TPD-NH3, BET nitrogen analysis, XPS and TEM at various stages of synthesis to understand the structure activity relationship. A kinetic model was developed for selective synthesis of γ-butyrolactone and validated. The activation energy for the reaction was found to be 11 kcal/mol.

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Abbreviations

A :

Succinic acid

B :

Hydrogen

C :

Succinic anhydride

D :

5-Hydroxydihydrofuranone

E :

γ-Butyrolactone

F :

2-Tetrahydrofuranol

G :

Tetrahydrofuran

X :

Water

W :

Catalyst loading (g/cm3)

S a :

Acid site on catalyst

S m :

Metal site on catalyst

C Sa :

Concentration of acid site (mol/cm3)

C Sm :

Concentration of metal site (mol/cm3)

C (A−G)Sa :

Concentration of component (A − G) on acid site (mol/cm3)

C Bm :

Concentration of hydrogen on metal site (mol/cm3)

k :

Intrinsic kinetic constant (cm3 gcat 1 min−1)

k 1 :

Reaction rate constant of dehydration reaction (min−1)

k 2 :

Reaction rate constant of hydrogenation of succinic anhydride (cm3 mol−1 min−1)

k 3 :

Reaction rate constant of hydrogenation of GBL (cm3 mol−1 min−1)

k 5 :

Reaction rate constant of hydrogenolysis of 2-tetrahydrofuranol (cm3 mol−1 min−1)

K A :

Adsorption constant of succinic acid on acid site (cm3/mol)

K B :

Adsorption constant of hydrogen on metal site (cm3/mol)

K E1 :

Desorption constant of GBL from acid site (cm3/mol)

K G :

Desorption constant of THF from acid site (cm3/mol)

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Acknowledgements

S. C. Patankar acknowledges UGC for awarding SRF under its SAP program (Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemical Engineering). A. G. Sharma acknowledges UGC for awarding JRF. G. D. Yadav acknowledges support from the R. T. Mody Distinguished Professor Endowment and J. C. Bose National Fellowship of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Authors acknowledge the support provided by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, India, for the XPS characterization.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai, 400019, India

    Saurabh C. Patankar, Anita G. Sharma & Ganapati D. Yadav

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  1. Saurabh C. Patankar
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  2. Anita G. Sharma
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  3. Ganapati D. Yadav
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Correspondence to Ganapati D. Yadav.

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Patankar, S.C., Sharma, A.G. & Yadav, G.D. Biobased process intensification in selective synthesis of γ-butyrolactone from succinic acid via synergistic palladium–copper bimetallic catalyst supported on alumina xerogel. Clean Techn Environ Policy 20, 683–693 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-017-1381-6

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