Modifications in the nitric acid oxidation of d-glucose

The nitric acid oxidation of d-glucose was reinvestigated in an effort to better understand and improve the oxidation and subsequent work up steps. The oxidation was carried out using a computer controlled reactor employing a closed reaction flask under an atmosphere of oxygen which allowed for a catalytic oxidation process with oxygen as the terminal oxidant. Removal of nitric acid from product included the use of both diffusion dialysis and nanofiltration methodologies. Product analysis protocols were developed using ion chromatography.

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► Computer controlled nitric acid oxidation of D-glucose in a closed reaction vessel carried out under an oxygen atmosphere.
► D-Glucaric acid was isolated as its monopotassium salt.
► Nitric acid was removed from the reaction mixture by evaporation, nanofiltration and diffusion dialysis.
► Ion chromatography was employed for reaction mixture analysis.
► Oxygen served as the terminal oxidizing agent, nitric acid was recycled and reaction conditions were much milder than generally reported.