Exploring the chemistry of gold and its unique opportunities in catalysis for biomass conversion in biobased chemicals

Abstract

The current utilization of renewable biomass - carbohydrates in general, and sugars in particular, as feedstock for the chemical industry is modest when considering their ready availability at low cost and the huge as yet unexploited potential. Efforts to boost the production of bio-based chemicals and to replace those derived from petrochemical sources certainly include the development of new catalytic processes. The chemistry of gold offers unique opportunities in catalysis in general, and excelent chance for the development of viable industrial processes for conversion of renewable biomass into bio-based chemicals. Gold nanocatalysts have been studied and exhibit excellent catalytic properties and high selectivity in various reactions, especially catalytic oxidations, however gold has a limited impact on industrial catalysis. A challenge still to be overcome is the preparation of catalysts of controlled size that are sufficiently stable, while maintaining an acceptable activity and selectivity to real conditions. This research project aims to develop catalytic systems based gold and gold combined with other metals (eg Pd, Cu, Pt) for oxidation of alcohols, poliols and sugars. The oxidation of alcohols by gold catalysts has been studied in our group with excellent preliminary results. In this proposal we intend to broaden the scope of substrates until we reach the catalytic oxidation reactions of carbohydrates to produce biobased chemicals. The classes of organic compounds containing oxygen, such as epoxides, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols and acids, are intermediates in the manufacture of plastics, detergents, paints, etc. Brazil is a country with great potential for generating different types of biomass and therefore must develop technologies that use them. In the case of biomass-based on carbohydrates, the opportunities are enormous, not only as raw materials for fuel production, but also for the manufacture of chemical intermediates and new materials with higher added value. (AU)