An important aspect of renewable energy research is related with the transformation of biomass-based platform molecules to value-added chemicals by identifying/developing selective catalysis. This presentation deals with acrylic acid (AA) production by selective dehydration of lactic acid (LA), methyl lactate (ML) or ethyl lactate (EL) over K<sup>+</sup>-exchanged zeolite catalysts. Zeolites having different pore structures are investigated to highlight that samples based on MFI-zeolite (ZSM-5) can be very efficient and stable catalysts for the target reactions. It will be shown that the use of either EL or ML for AA production has the advantage in offering a higher AA yield. In particular, the dehydration of EL and ML over KZSM-5 catalysts usually produces much cleaner product and significantly higher AA selectivity. Discussion on the nature of active sites and mechanisms of the reactions will be made based on measurements of the reaction kinetics of LA and EL under different conditions, including co-feeding acidic and basic molecules for the reactions.

Acrylic acid production by catalytic dehydration of lactic acid and alkyl lactates over K<sup>+</sup>-exchanged zeolites

256th National Meeting (2018)

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Acrylic acid production by catalytic dehydration of lactic acid and alkyl lactates over K+-exchanged zeolites

Acrylic acid production by catalytic dehydration of lactic acid and alkyl lactates over K⁺-exchanged zeolites