R.M. Abdilla-Santes, C.B. Rasrendra, J.G.M. Winkelman, H.J. Heeres
Levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose) is an anhydrosugar found in significant amounts in pyrolysis liquids obtained from lignocellulosic biomass. Levoglucosan (LG) is an attractive source for glucose (GLC), which can be used as a feedstock for biofuels (e.g. bioethanol) and biobased chemicals. Here, we report a kinetic study on the conversion of LG to GLC in water using Amberlyst 16 as the solid acid catalyst at a wide range of conditions in a batch set-up. The effects of the reaction temperature (352–388 K), initial LG intake (100–1000 mol m−3), catalyst loading (1–5 wt%), and stirring rate (250–1000 rpm) were determined. The highest GLC yield was 98.5 mol% (388 K, 5 wt% Amberlyst 16, CLG,0 = 500 mol m−3 at 500 rpm stirring rate and t = 60 min). The experimental data were modelled and relevant kinetic parameters were determined using a first order approach including diffusion limitations of LG inside the Amberlyst particles. Good agreement between experiments and kinetic model was obtained. The activation energy was found to be 132.3 ± 10.1 kJ mol−1. Experiments in a continuous packed bed set-up for up to 30 h show that catalyst stability is good. In addition, the steady state LG conversion (73 mol%) and the GLC selectivity were in line with the kinetic model obtained in the batch reactor. © 2019 Institution of Chemical Engineers
Green Chemical Reaction Engineering, ENTEG, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen, 9747, AG, Netherlands; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Brawijaya, MT. Haryono 167, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia
