Conversion of Glycerol to Lactic Acid in an alkaline medium using SiO2 supported copper catalysts

Lactic acid is one of the materials with high added value that can be obtained through glycerol, having the most varied applications in different industries, with current emphasis on its important application in obtaining polylactic acid (PLA). The objective of this work was the production of lactic...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Cruz, Andreza de Faria Alves, Muchave, Germildo Juvenal, Aranda, Donato Alexandre Gomes
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal de Itajubá (UNIFEI)
Repositorio:Research, Society and Development
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/25652
Acceso en línea:https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/25652
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ácido Lático
Glicerol
Catalisadores
Glicerol.
Ácido Láctico
Catalizadores
Cobre
Lactic Acid
Catalysts
Copper
Glycerol.
Descripción
Sumario:Lactic acid is one of the materials with high added value that can be obtained through glycerol, having the most varied applications in different industries, with current emphasis on its important application in obtaining polylactic acid (PLA). The objective of this work was the production of lactic acid from glycerol in an alkaline medium using two different copper catalysts supported on silica (SiO2) with 5% copper on the mass of the glycerol solution, using a simple batch reaction system. For all catalysts, the catalytic tests were carried out with a NaOH/glycerol mass ratio of 1:1 and a NaOH concentration equal to 0.6 M. With the catalyst 9%Cu/SiO2-D2, the catalytic tests were carried out in a reaction time of 6 hours, using temperatures of 220ºC, 250ºC, 280ºC and 300ºC, with glycerol concentrations of 0.6 M and 3.3 M. The results of glycerol conversion (58,9%) and selectivity of lactic acid (69,4%) were satisfactory at higher temperatures (280ºC and 300ºC). Tests with the catalyst 9%Cu/SiO2-F1 were carried out using the glycerol concentration equal to 0.6 M, reaction time of 6 hours and temperatures of 250ºC, 280ºC and 300ºC. The results indicated a good conversion of glycerol (54.0%) and selectivity to lactic acid (59.8%) at higher temperatures (300ºC). Thus, it was concluded that the catalysts were favorable in these reactions. The reaction temperature combined with the reaction time proved to be essential parameters in evaluating the conversion and selectivity to lactic acid.