Miller, Dennis J., James E. Jackson, Zhigang Zhang, Frank T. Jere. HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS FOR UPGRADING FERMENTATION-DERIVED ORGANIC ACIDS TO HIGH-VALUE PRODUCTS
Department of Chemical Engineering, 2527 Engineering Bldg., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (millerd@egr.msu.edu)
Organic acids produced by fermentation of carbohydrates are attractive feedstocks for chemical production because they are both reactive and available at low cost. These acids can be converted to higher-value products in aqueous solution using inorganic solid catalysts, thus leading to processes that are both environmentally benign and economically attractive. This paper will give an overview of potential routes to chemicals from organic acids, and then focus on two specific technologies we have developed in our laboratories: 1) the conversion of lactic acid to propylene glycol, a large-scale, non-toxic commodity, and 2) conversion of amino acids to amino alcohols, chiral chemicals used as intermediates in pharmaceuticals and pesticides manufacture. Both technical and economic aspects of these novel chemical conversion routes will be discussed.