Materials & Chemicals
Producing Methyl Vinyl Ketone from Levulinic Acid
WARF: P09350US01
Inventors: James Dumesic, Ryan West
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a method to convert inexpensive biomass-derived carboxylic acids such as levulinic acid into methyl vinyl ketone, a valuable industrial compound.
Overview
Levulinic acid is a biomass-derived compound that can be obtained inexpensively in high yields from a variety of waste cellulose-containing materials. It has been identified as a top biomass-derived chemical due to its ease of production for both five and six carbon sugars and its useful functional groups, a ketone and a carboxylic acid. There are several possible reactive pathways for levulinic acid to form other, more valuable reactive chemicals including methyl vinyl ketone. Methyl vinyl ketone is valuable for many industrial processes because it contains two useful functional groups, an olefin and a ketone. It also is used to produce polymers and other chemical production pathways.
Previously, research has focused on dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions of levulinic acid as methods to produce these intermediate chemicals. Unfortunately, these methods to produce methyl vinyl ketone require expensive starting materials, catalysts and reactive conditions. More recent work has been focused on producing chemicals from levulinic acid without the addition of hydrogen, which could decrease costs associated with catalysts and reactive conditions. An inexpensive, commercially viable method to produce methyl vinyl ketone from levulinic acid is needed.
Previously, research has focused on dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions of levulinic acid as methods to produce these intermediate chemicals. Unfortunately, these methods to produce methyl vinyl ketone require expensive starting materials, catalysts and reactive conditions. More recent work has been focused on producing chemicals from levulinic acid without the addition of hydrogen, which could decrease costs associated with catalysts and reactive conditions. An inexpensive, commercially viable method to produce methyl vinyl ketone from levulinic acid is needed.
The Invention
UW–Madison researchers have developed an efficient method to convert levulinic acid to methyl vinyl ketone. The method involves performing a reaction with an aqueous solution comprising levulinic acid over an acid catalyst, preferably a solid acid catalyst, at a temperature from 500 to about 900 Kelvin and without added molecular hydrogen. The reaction can be performed in either a batch or continuous reactor, although a continuous reactor is preferred. The reaction produces methyl vinyl ketone at higher yields from less expensive starting material compared to current methods.
Applications
- Conversion of levulinic acid to methyl vinyl ketone in a single reactor
- Coupling with the industrial production of levulinic acid through inexpensive routes, for example the Biofine process, to convert renewable lignocelluloses resources
Key Benefits
- Produces methyl vinyl ketone at yields greater than 90 percent
- Converts an inexpensive, renewable resource (levulinic acid) into useful intermediate methyl vinyl ketone in one step
Additional Information
Related Technologies
Publications
- Kunkes E.L., Simonetti D.A., West R.M., Serrano-Ruiz J.C., Gärtner C.A. and Dumesic J.A. 2008. Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Monofunctional Hydrocarbons and Targeted Liquid-Fuel Classes. Science 322, 417-421.
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854