Catalysis by gold for biomass transformations
Simakova, Olga (2012-10-12)
Åbo Akademi University
12.10.2012
This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201311117334
http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201311117334
Tiivistelmä
The development of new technologies to supplement fossil resources has led to a growing
interest in the utilization of alternative routes. Biomass is a rich renewable feedstock for
producing fine chemicals, polymers, and a variety of commodities replacing petroleumderived
chemicals. Transformation of biomass into diverse valuable chemicals is the key
concept of a biorefinery. Catalytic conversion of biomass, which reduces the use of toxic
chemicals is one of the important approaches to improve the profitability of biorefineries.
Utilization of gold catalysts allows conducting reactions under environmentally-friendly
conditions, with a high catalytic activity and selectivity. Gold-catalyzed valorization of
several biomass-derived compounds as an alternative approach to the existing technologies
was studied in this work.
Isomerization of linoleic acid via double bond migration towards biologically active
conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) was investigated. The activity and selectivity of
various gold catalysts towards cis-9,trans-11-CLA and trans-10,cis-12-CLA were
investigated in a semi-batch reactor, showing that the yield of the desired products varied,
depending on the catalyst support.
The structure sensitivity in the selective oxidation of arabinose was demonstrated using a
series of gold catalysts with different Au cluster sizes in a shaker reactor operating in a semibatch
mode. The gas-phase selective oxidation of ethanol was studied and the influence of the
catalyst support on the catalytic performance was investigated.
The selective oxidation of the lignan hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), extracted from the Norway
spruce (Picea abies) knots, to the lignan oxomatairesinol (oxoMAT) was extensively
investigated. The influence of the reaction conditions and catalyst properties on the yield of
oxoMAT was evaluated. In particular, the structure sensitivity of the reaction was
demonstrated. The catalyst deactivation and regeneration procedures were studied. The
reaction kinetics and mechanism were advanced.
interest in the utilization of alternative routes. Biomass is a rich renewable feedstock for
producing fine chemicals, polymers, and a variety of commodities replacing petroleumderived
chemicals. Transformation of biomass into diverse valuable chemicals is the key
concept of a biorefinery. Catalytic conversion of biomass, which reduces the use of toxic
chemicals is one of the important approaches to improve the profitability of biorefineries.
Utilization of gold catalysts allows conducting reactions under environmentally-friendly
conditions, with a high catalytic activity and selectivity. Gold-catalyzed valorization of
several biomass-derived compounds as an alternative approach to the existing technologies
was studied in this work.
Isomerization of linoleic acid via double bond migration towards biologically active
conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) was investigated. The activity and selectivity of
various gold catalysts towards cis-9,trans-11-CLA and trans-10,cis-12-CLA were
investigated in a semi-batch reactor, showing that the yield of the desired products varied,
depending on the catalyst support.
The structure sensitivity in the selective oxidation of arabinose was demonstrated using a
series of gold catalysts with different Au cluster sizes in a shaker reactor operating in a semibatch
mode. The gas-phase selective oxidation of ethanol was studied and the influence of the
catalyst support on the catalytic performance was investigated.
The selective oxidation of the lignan hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), extracted from the Norway
spruce (Picea abies) knots, to the lignan oxomatairesinol (oxoMAT) was extensively
investigated. The influence of the reaction conditions and catalyst properties on the yield of
oxoMAT was evaluated. In particular, the structure sensitivity of the reaction was
demonstrated. The catalyst deactivation and regeneration procedures were studied. The
reaction kinetics and mechanism were advanced.