One-pot catalytic conversion of Nordic pulp media into green platform chemicals

In this paper, both sulfite and sulfate (kraft) celluloses from Nordic pulp mills were used as raw materials in the catalytic one-pot synthesis of green platform chemicals, levulinic and formic acids, respectively. The catalyst of choice was a macro-porous, cationic ion-exchange resin, Amberlyst 70. The optimal reaction conditions were determined and the influence of various gas atmospheres was investigated. The maximum yields of 53% formic acid and 57% of levulinic acid were separately obtained in a straight-forward conversion system only containing cellulose, water and the heterogeneous catalyst. The concept introduces a one-pot procedure providing a feasible route to green platform chemicals obtained via conversion of coniferous soft wood pulp to levulinic and formic acids, respectively.

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► Comparison of Nordic pulp as raw material for green platform chemicals.
► A low-cost heterogeneous catalyst, Amberlyst 70, was used as a recyclable catalyst.
► The yield of both levulinic and formic acids obtained was around 50–55%.
► The hydrolytic system operates without energy-intensive pre-treatment procedures.