Bifunctional catalysts for the valorization of cellulose into sorbitol
(2022)
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- Authors
- Supervisors
- Hermans, Sophie
- Abstract
- Modern societies are facing a drastic demographic increase that induces economic and ecological concerns. Alternatives from fossil fuels are required to respond to the energy and chemicals demand while keeping pollution at the lowest possible level. One of the most promising solution is the use of lignocellulosic biomass to produce chemicals and fuels. Lignocellulosic biomass is a non-edible renewable source that is composed of cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin. These three components can be valorized into high-value molecules. Among all the possibilities, sorbitol production from cellulose is a very attractive topic and the subject of this PhD thesis. This transformation occurs in two steps: hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose followed by hydrogenation. In this context, bifunctional catalysts that can enhance both steps at the same time, to improve sorbitol production, have been developed. Firstly, catalysts composed of Ru nanoparticles deposited on carbon supports have been investigated for hydrogenation of glucose into sorbitol. Secondly, incorporation of nitrogen within the carbon materials lattice has been studied for enhancing Ru hydrogenation activity. Thirdly, the hydrolysis of cellobiose (model molecule for cellulose) into glucose has been improved by increasing the acidity of carbon materials through the addition of sulfonic functions using a diazonium coupling method. Finally, bifunctional catalysts combining benefits from both the Ru nanoparticles and the sulfonic functions on the carbon materials have been synthesized for producing sorbitol from cellobiose and ultimately directly from cellulose, competitively when compared to alternatives proposed in the literature.
- Affiliations
Citations
Carlier, S. (2022). Bifunctional catalysts for the valorization of cellulose into sorbitol. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/233596