Integrated Process for the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass: From Biomass Fractionation and Characterization to Chemocatalytic Conversion with Lanthanum(III) Triflate

Abstract

The development of green processes for the production of renewable chemicals from biomass is required to respond to environmental issues. Herein, we report an integrated process for the production of lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass. Lactic acid, one of the most important building block chemicals for producing biodegradable plastics, is of great interest in biorenewable communities. Selective fractionation of a hemicellulose-rich stream, almost 90% recovery, was conducted using a lab-scale flowthrough reactor. The recovered fraction was subjected to the catalytic conversion to produce lactic acid in the presence of lanthanum triflate (La(OTf)(3)). The yield of lactic acid was 78% at 250 degrees C based on the total sugar amount. In addition, the impregnation of La(OTf)(3) into SiO2 was conducted to examine the possibilities of developing a heterogeneous catalyst system. Despite a slight decrease in the yield of lactic acid, the recyclability of the heterogeneous catalyst system with La(OTf)(3) was demonstrated. The result provides a strategy to improve the total biomass utilization through effective hemicellulose fractionation, followed by catalytic conversion to lactic acid.