METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND DERIVATIVES FROM COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING KETOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS

摘要

A crude composition comprising a ketocarboxylic acid such as levulinic acid, derived from biomass in an aqueous phase comprising impurities, can be efficiently converted in high yield to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid, such as succinic acid, which can be purified and dried.

主权项

1. A method for producing a dicarboxylic acid from biomass, wherein the method comprises
obtaining from biomass a crude composition comprising, along with at least 1.0 wt. % of impurities comprising biomass residues, a ketocarboxylic acid having the following structurewherein R2 is C1-C6 alkyl and a=0-3;
reacting the crude composition to oxidize the ketocarboxylic acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent to produce the corresponding dicarboxylic acid in which the R2 is replaced by an OH; and optionally purifying and drying the dicarboxylic acid to obtain a solid composition comprising greater than 95 wt. % of dicarboxylic acid.