Biopolymers have the potential to be a new source of feedstock chemicals.  Their current utilization has been limited due to poor solubility in traditional solvents.  Ionic liquids have opened up this field of study by providing a non-derivatizing solvent.  The dissolution properties of ILs coupled with acid catalyzed hydrolysis allows for the depolymerization of biopolymers, such as cellulose and chitin, into valuable feedstock chemicals.   This research will investigate the use of acid functionalized ILs for the hydrolysis of chitin into its monomer unit, N-acetylglucosamine.   The acid functionality used in this study is sulfonic acid.  We believe the effectiveness of the catalyst can be controlled through manipulation of the alkyl chain space between the cation head group and the sulfonic acid group.  This investigation will explore the effects of chain length on the production of N-acetylglucosamine and other degradation products from the hydrolysis of chitin.

Effects of catalyst chain length on biopolymer processes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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