2015 AIChE Annual Meeting Proceedings

(127f) Commodity Chemicals from Biomass: Conversion of Cellulose into 1,6-Hexanediol

Authors

Karanjkar, P. U. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Cao, F. - Presenter, Nanjing Tech University
Schwartz, T. J. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
McClelland, D. J. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Krishna, S. H. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Barnett, K. J. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Burt, S. P. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Huang, K. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hermans, I. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Banholzer, W. F. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dumesic, J. A. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Maravelias, C. - Presenter, Princeton University
Huber, G. - Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison

In this presentation, we describe a multi-step catalytic approach for conversion of cellulose into 1,6-hexanediol (C6 α,ω-diol) which is a high-volume (130,000 tons/year), high value ($4,600/ton) commodity chemical. Cellulose is first converted to levoglucosan which is then dehydrated into levoglucosenone (LGO) in the condensed phase with dilute acid (5-20 mM acid concentration) using a polar, aprotic solvent.  The product selectivity is a function of the water concentration, the solvent type and the cellulose loading. Increasing the water content leads to the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The LGO is then hydrogenated into dihydrolevoglucosenone, levoglucosanol, and tetrahydropyran-2-methanol (THPM).   The THPM then undergoes selective C-O-C hydrogenolysis to produce 1,6-hexanediol using a bifunctional (reducible metal with an oxophilic promoter) catalyst with > 90% selectivity to the desired α,ω-diol. We will discuss how the catalytic properties change the reaction pathways in these various steps and how further improvements in catalyst design could be used to produce these high value commodity chemicals from biomass.