Sodium nitrate modified SBA-15 and fumed silica for efficient production of acrylic acid and 2,3-pentanedione from lactic acid

The catalytic conversion of lactic acid to acrylic acid and 2,3-pentanedione over sodium nitrate-supported mesoporous SBA-15 and fumed silica was studied. The yields of acrylic acid, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetaldehyde are 44.8%, 25.1%, and 13.3%, respectively, over the 23%NaNO3/SBA-15 catalyst. The performance of the catalysts is strongly affected by NaNO3 loading, catalyst texture and porosity, and product diffusion efficiency. A proper control of NaNO3 loading can result in modification catalyst structure for improvement of 2,3-pentanedione selectivity. Under certain reaction conditions, the surface NaNO3 species can readily transform to sodium lactate that functions as active component to catalyze the target reactions.

Graphical abstractEfficient conversion of lactic acid to acrylic acid and 2,3-pentanedione can be achieved in single pass reaction over the 23%NaNO3 modified SBA-15 catalyst, giving the yields of acrylic acid, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetaldehyde being 44.8%, 25.1%, and 13.3%, respectively, and an overall yield of 83.2% for the three products.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide