catalytic transformation of polyoxygenated derivatives
Résumé
Several biomass resources are promising starting materials for the synthesis of chemicals. From the nature, a considerable range of polyoxygenated compounds were produced among them polysaccharides are available at the largest amount. Many efforts focused on the upgrading of these starting materials towards the synthesis of platform molecules. In our group we are involved in the catalytic transformation of these biobased compounds using mainly metal supported catalysts and this will be illustrated through different examples. Glycerol, the by-product of biodiesel industry or alternatively obtained from glucose fermentation, is available at large scale. We have studied its catalytic transformation into lactic acid under inert atmosphere combining theoretical and experimental approaches [1]. A second field of our research is dealing with the catalytic hydrogenation of acids produced from biomass such as succinic acid produced via anaerobic fermentation, or levulinic acid issued from acidic treatment of lignocellulosic biomass [2]. Direct cellulose transformation into valuable products will be also presented [3].