Continuous Conversion of Glucose into Methyl Lactate over the Sn-Beta Zeolite: Catalytic Performance and Activity Insight
Yanfei Zhang, Hu Luo, Xinpeng Zhao, Lijun Zhu, Gai Miao, Hao Wang, Shenggang Li, Lingzhao Kong
Abstract
In this study, we developed an efficient technology for the continuous conversion of glucose into methyl lactate over the Sn-Beta zeolite with a trickle bed reactor. The catalyst exhibited a high yield of 59.7% for lactic acid in water, and the total yield of methyl lactate and xylitol reached 59.8% (37.3% for methyl lactate) in methanol. The continuous evaluation of Sn-Beta demonstrated a maximum yield of 45.0% for methyl lactate along with 99% conversion of glucose in methanol, and the catalyst was continuously operated for over 434 h at 165 °C. The changes in Sn coordination and fouling stand as the dominant reason for the activity loss of Sn-Beta. Compared with the rapid decline of activity in water, reaction in methanol exhibited much less carbon deposition, structural changes, and Sn leaching after a long-term operation. The promising result indicated the potential application of Sn-Beta as an industrial catalyst for biomass utilization.