Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1039/c4ra16303f
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Electrochemistry for the generation of renewable chemicals: electrochemical conversion of levulinic acid
Author dos Santos, T.R.; Nilges, P.; Sauter, W.; Harnisch, F. ORCID logo ; Schröder, U.
Source Titel RSC Advances
Year 2015
Department UMB
Volume 5
Issue 34
Page From 26634
Page To 26643
Language englisch
Supplements http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/ra/c4/c4ra16303f/c4ra16303f1.pdf
UFZ wide themes RU4;
Abstract The oxidative and reductive electrochemical conversion of levulinic acid to its primary products valeric acid, g-valerolactone, 2,7-octanedione, 4-hydroxy-2-butanone and 3-buten-2-one is studied in detail. The
reactions were performed in aqueous solutions and at ambient temperature, following the principles of
green chemistry. The obtained primary reaction products were studied with respect to the oxidative and
reductive electrochemical formation of secondary products, such as n-octane, 1-butanol and
1,3-butanediol. It is shown that the choice of electrolyte composition, educt concentration and the
nature of the electrode material has a strong influence on the selectivity of product formation. For
instance it is demonstrated that in alkaline solutions g-valerolactone can be gained from levulinic acid at
iron electrodes with similar Coulombic efficiency (∼20%) but higher selectivity (S ¼ 70%) than on lead
(S ¼ 50%). Furthermore, for the first time the electrochemical two-step reaction of levulinic acid to
1-butanol via 4-hydroxy-2-butanone is reported. For some of the reaction pathways the main product is
water insoluble, which allows a direct separation of the product and the potential electrolyte reuse in a
semi-continuous process. Especially the use of the electrocatalytic hydrogenation may provide a path
for the storage of electricity into liquid organic fuels as shown by a basic energetic assessment of all
electrochemical conversions.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=15955
dos Santos, T.R., Nilges, P., Sauter, W., Harnisch, F., Schröder, U. (2015):
Electrochemistry for the generation of renewable chemicals: electrochemical conversion of levulinic acid
RSC Advances 5 (34), 26634 - 26643 10.1039/c4ra16303f