Biorenewable Strategy for Catalytic ε-Caprolactam Production Using Cellulose- and Hemicellulose-Derived γ-Valerolactone

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• 作者：Jeehoon Han
• 刊名：ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：February 6, 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：5
• 期：2
• 页码：1892-1898
• 全文大小：508K
• ISSN：2168-0485

文摘

A biorenewable ε-caprolactam (EC) production strategy is presented based on experiment and process systems engineering studies. In this strategy, a corn stover is catalytically converted to γ-valerolactone (GVL) by using cellulose- and hemicellulose-derived GVL as a reaction solvent, and GVL is then upgraded to EC as a reaction intermediate. Experimental studies showed high yields (biomass-to-GVL: 41% and GVL-to-EC: 30%) using large amounts of GVL (more than five times the biomass), combined with difficulties in separation/purification. This work presents a systematic framework of process systems engineering studies for the strategy as follows: (1) synthesis of a commercial-scale integrated process, including catalytic conversion and separation subsystems, (2) design of a heat exchanger network to satisfy the total energy requirements of the process, and (3) demonstration of the economic feasibility of the process taking into account the minimum selling price of EC and a comparison with the petro-based process.