Reaction pathways of glucose during esterification: Effects of reaction parameters on the formation of humin type polymers

Xun Hu, Caroline Lievens, Alfons Larcher, Chun Zhu Li*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

150 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The formation of humin-type polymers and other products during exposure of glucose to methanol/water mixtures with methanol/water mass ratios from 10 to 0.22 in the presence of the acid catalyst Amberlyst 70 was investigated. In water-rich medium (methanol/water mass ratio: 0.22), dehydration of glucose produced 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), furfural, and substantial amounts of polymer. In methanol-rich medium (methanol/water mass ratio: 10), the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups of glucose, HMF or furfural were protected via etherification and acetalisation. These protections stabilized these reactive compounds and significantly lowered the polymer formation (1.43% of the glucose loaded). The polymerization of glucose and HMF was also favored at high temperatures and long residence times. Conversely, high catalyst dosage mainly accelerated the conversion of glucose to methyl levulinate. Thus, the polymerization of glucose and HMF can be suppressed in methanol/water mixtures with high methanol ratios, at low temperatures and short residence times.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10104-10113
Number of pages10
JournalBioresource technology
Volume102
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Glucose
  • Methanolysis
  • Methyl levulinate
  • Molecular modification
  • Polymer suppression
  • ITC-ISI-JOURNAL-ARTICLE

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