Stability of gamma-valerolactone under pulping conditions as a basis for process optimization and chemical recovery

This study focuses on the investigation of the extent of the γ-valerolactone (GVL) hydrolysis forming an equilibrium with 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (4-HVA) in aqueous solutions over a wide pH range. The hydrolysis of a 50 wt% GVL solution to 4-HVA (3.5 mol%) was observed only at elevated temperatures. The addition of sulfuric acid (0.2 × 10–5 wt% to 6 wt%) at elevated temperatures (150–180 °C) and reaction times between 30 and 180 min caused the formation of 4 mol% 4-HVA. However, with decreasing acidity, the 4-HVA remained constant at about 3 mol%. The hydrolysis reactions in alkaline conditions were conducted at a constant time (30 min) and temperature (180 °C) with the variation of the NaOH concentration (0.2 × 10–6 wt% to 7 wt%). The addition of less than 0.2 wt% of NaOH resulted in the formation of less than 4 mol% of sodium 4-hydroxyvalerate. A maximum amount of 21 mol% of 4-HVA was observed in a 7 wt% NaOH solution. The degree of decomposition after treatment was determined by NMR analysis. To verify the GVL stability under practical conditions, Betula pendula sawdust was fractionated in 50 wt% GVL with and without the addition of H2SO4 or NaOH at 180 °C and a treatment time of 120 min. The spent liquor was analyzed and a 4-HVA content of 5.6 mol% in a high acidic (20 kg H2SO4/t wood) and 6.0 mol% in an alkaline (192 kg NaOH/t wood) environment have been determined.

The Use of Computed Tomography in the Study of Microstructure of Molded Pieces Made of Poly(3-hydroxybutyric-co-3-hydroxyvaleric Acid) (PHBV) Biocomposites with Natural Fiber

In order to determine the structure homogeneity of biocomposites filled with fibers, as well as the evaluation of fibers’ arrangement and their orientation on the sample cross-section at varied injection rates, a study was conducted using computed tomography (CT). The main advantage of this test is the fact that in order to assess the microstructure on cross-sections, the samples do not have to be processed mechanically, which allows for presenting the actual image of the microstructure. The paper presents the issues of such tests for the biocomposite of poly (3-hydroxybutyric-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV)-hemp fibers. It should be emphasized that CT scanning of PHBV-hemp fiber biocomposites is quite difficult to perform due to the similar density of the fibers and the polymer matrix. Due to the high difficulty of distinguishing fibers against the background of the polymer matrix during CT examination, a biocomposite containing 15% hemp fibers was analyzed. The samples for testing were manufactured using the injection molding process at variable injection rates, i.e., 10, 35 and 70 cm3/s. The images obtained by computed tomography show the distribution of hemp fibers and their clusters in the PHBV matrix and the degree of porosity on the sample cross-section. There were significant microstructural differences for the samples injected at the highest injection rates, including, among others, the occurrence of a smaller number of fibers and pores on the surface layer of the molded piece. The phenomenon observed was verified by testing chosen mechanical properties, shrinkage and water absorption of the samples. Some properties improved with an increasing injection rate, while others deteriorated and vice versa. An analysis of biocomposites’ microstructures using computed tomography provides a wide range of possibilities for future research, including an assessment of the structure of the molded parts. These tests may allow one, for example, to detect the cause of molded piece properties decreasing in a specific area as a result of a high degree of fiber disorientation, as well as the defects resulting from high porosity of the material. Such analyses can be particularly useful for producers that deal with the injection molding of pieces molded with specific properties.

Quercetin modified electrospun PHBV fibrous scaffold enhances cartilage regeneration

It suggests that the poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV) scaffold can be used for cartilage tissue engineering, but PHBV is short of bioactivity that is required for cartilage regeneration. To fabricate a bioactive cartilage tissue engineering scaffold that promotes cartilage regeneration, quercetin (QUE) modified PHBV (PHBV-g-QUE) fibrous scaffolds were prepared by a two-step surface modification method. The PHBV-g-QUE fibrous scaffold facilitates the growth of chondrocytes and maintains chondrocytic phenotype resulting from the upregulation of SOX9, COL II, and ACAN. The PHBV-g-QUE fibrous scaffold inhibited apoptosis of chondrocyte and reduced oxidative stress of chondrocytes by regulating the transcription of related genes. Following PHBV-g-QUE fibrous scaffolds and PHBV fibrous scaffolds with adhered chondrocytes were implanted into nude mice for 4 weeks, it demonstrated that PHBV-g-QUE fibrous scaffolds significantly promoted cartilage regeneration compared with the PHBV fibrous scaffolds. Hence, it suggests that the PHBV-g-QUE fibrous scaffold can be potentially applied in the clinical treatment of cartilage defects in the future.

Reductive Conversion of Biomass-Derived Furancarboxylic Acids with Retention of Carboxylic Acid Moiety

Catalytic reduction systems of 2-furancarboxylic acid (FCA) and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with H2 without reduction of the carboxyl groups are reviewed. FCA and FDCA are produced from furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural which are important platform chemicals in biomass conversions. Furan ring hydrogenation to tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid (THFCA) and tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (THFDCA) easily proceeds over Pd catalysts. Hydrogenolysis of one C–O bond in the furan ring produces 5-hydroxyvaleric acid (5-HVA) and 2-hydroxyadipic acid. 2-Hydroxyvaleric acid is not produced in the reported systems. 5-HVA can be produced as the lactone form (δ-valerolactone; DVL) or as the esters depending on the solvent. These reactions proceed over Pt catalysts with good yields (~ 70%) at optimized conditions. Hydrogenolysis of two C–O bonds in the furan ring produces valeric acid and adipic acid, the latter of which is a very important chemical in industry and its production from biomass is of high importance. Adipic acid from FDCA can be produced directly over Pt-MoOx catalyst, indirectly via hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation as one-pot reaction using the combination of Pt and acid catalysts such as Pt/niobium oxide, or indirectly via two-step reaction composed of hydrogenation catalyzed by Pd and hydrodeoxygenation catalyzed by iodide ion in acidic conditions. Only the two-step method can give good yield of adipic acid at present.

Stability of Gamma-valerolactone Under Pulping Conditions as a Basis for Process Optimization and Chemical Recovery

This study investigates the extent of the g-valerolactone (GVL) hydrolysis forming an equilibrium with 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (4-HVA) in aqueous solutions over a wide pH range. The hydrolysis of pure 50 wt% GVL to 4-HVA (3.5 mol%) was observed only at elevated temperatures. The addition of sulfuric acid (0.2×10-5 wt% to 6 wt%) at elevated temperatures (150 – 180°C) and reaction times between 30-180 min caused the formation of 4 mol% 4-HVA but with decreasing acidity, the 4-HVA remained constant at about 3 mol%. The hydrolysis reactions in alkaline conditions were conducted at constant time (30 min) and temperature (180 °C) with variation of the NaOH concentration (0.2×10-6 wt% to 7 wt%). The addition of less than 0.2 wt % of NaOH resulted in the formation of less than 4 mol% of sodium 4-hydroxyvalerate. A maximum amount of 21 mol% of 4-HVA was observed in a 7 wt% NaOH solution. The stability after synthesis was determined by NMR analysis. To verify the GVL stability results obtained under practical conditions, Betula pendula sawdust was fractionated in 50% GVL with and without addition of H2SO4 or NaOH at 180°C and 120 min, and spent liquor was analyzed. The spent liquor contained 5.6 mol% and 6.0 mol% of 4-HVA in a highly acidic (20 kg H2SO4/t wood) and alkaline (192 kg NaOH/ t wood) environment, respectively.