353
3.4 Synthesis of Succinic Acid from LA
Succinic acid is one of the top 12 value-added products derived from the biomass
because it possesses dicarboxylic group at positions 1 and 4. It is another significant
value-added chemical that can be obtained from LA. It has various applications and
can be used as a fuel additive, polymer, solvent, food/cosmetic/pharmaceuticals,
etc. Zeikus [39] was the first to recognize the industrial significance of succinic
acid. Succinic acid serves as a pH regulator and flavoring agent and has many
medicinal applications [40] such as a antimicrobial agent and vitamin additive and
for the production of antibiotics and amino acid synthesis [41]. Succinic acid is also
one of the useful precursors for the industrially important chemicals, such as
1,4-butyrolactone, pyrrolidinone, tetrahydrofuran, and g-butyrolactone [42].
Moreover, succinic acid can be produced from LA by oxidation reaction. Dunlop
et al. patented the process of oxidation of LA over V 2 O 5 as catalyst at higher temperature which is around 360–400 °C [43]. Ru-based magnetic nanoparticles have
been efficiently utilized by Parvulescu et al. for the production of succinic acid from
LA. One-step conversion of LA to SA has been reported by Kawasumi et al. [44]
using I 2 /t-BuOK system with 3% H 2 O 2 . They achieved 83% yield within 1-h room
temperature. Dutta et al. have also reported the synthesis of SA through oxidation
using H 2 O 2 in trifluoroacetic acid. They got 62% yield of SA within 2 h at 90 °C
[45] (Scheme 6).
3.5 Synthesis of Pyrrolidinones from LA
Pyrrolidinones are one of the value-added chemicals derived from levulinic acid,
which serve as the platform to produce other high value-added chemicals. They are
also useful for various industrial applications, such as organic solvents and as precursors in the production of surfactants, and in various pharmaceutical products
OH
O
O
O
O
OH
O
OH
O
Pentenoic Acid
Valeric acid (VA)
GVL
Levulinic Acid
H 2 O/H 2
H 2 O/H +
+H 2
Scheme 5 Synthesis of GVL from levulinic acid
Solid Acid-Catalyzed Esterification of Levulinic Acid for Production of Value-Added…
3.4 Synthesis of Succinic Acid from LA
Succinic acid is one of the top 12 value-added products derived from the biomass
because it possesses dicarboxylic group at positions 1 and 4. It is another significant
value-added chemical that can be obtained from LA. It has various applications and
can be used as a fuel additive, polymer, solvent, food/cosmetic/pharmaceuticals,
etc. Zeikus [39] was the first to recognize the industrial significance of succinic
acid. Succinic acid serves as a pH regulator and flavoring agent and has many
medicinal applications [40] such as a antimicrobial agent and vitamin additive and
for the production of antibiotics and amino acid synthesis [41]. Succinic acid is also
one of the useful precursors for the industrially important chemicals, such as
1,4-butyrolactone, pyrrolidinone, tetrahydrofuran, and g-butyrolactone [42].
Moreover, succinic acid can be produced from LA by oxidation reaction. Dunlop
et al. patented the process of oxidation of LA over V 2 O 5 as catalyst at higher temperature which is around 360–400 °C [43]. Ru-based magnetic nanoparticles have
been efficiently utilized by Parvulescu et al. for the production of succinic acid from
LA. One-step conversion of LA to SA has been reported by Kawasumi et al. [44]
using I 2 /t-BuOK system with 3% H 2 O 2 . They achieved 83% yield within 1-h room
temperature. Dutta et al. have also reported the synthesis of SA through oxidation
using H 2 O 2 in trifluoroacetic acid. They got 62% yield of SA within 2 h at 90 °C
[45] (Scheme 6).
3.5 Synthesis of Pyrrolidinones from LA
Pyrrolidinones are one of the value-added chemicals derived from levulinic acid,
which serve as the platform to produce other high value-added chemicals. They are
also useful for various industrial applications, such as organic solvents and as precursors in the production of surfactants, and in various pharmaceutical products
OH
O
O
O
O
OH
O
OH
O
Pentenoic Acid
Valeric acid (VA)
GVL
Levulinic Acid
H 2 O/H 2
H 2 O/H +
+H 2
Scheme 5 Synthesis of GVL from levulinic acid
Solid Acid-Catalyzed Esterification of Levulinic Acid for Production of Value-Added…