Chemical synthesis of fully biomass-based poly(butylene succinate) from inedible-biomass-based furfural and evaluation of its biomass carbon ratio

Biomacromolecules. 2010 Oct 11;11(10):2760-5. doi: 10.1021/bm100820y.

Abstract

We have produced fully biomass-based poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) from furfural produced from inedible agricultural cellulosic waste. Furfural was oxidized to give fumaric acid. Fumaric acid was hydrogenated under high pressure with a palladium-rhenium/carbon catalyst to give 1,4-butanediol, and with a palladium/carbon catalyst to give succinic acid. Dimethyl succinate was synthesized from fumaric acid by esterification and hydrogenation under normal pressure. Fully biomass-based PBS was obtained by polycondensation of biomass-based 1,4-butanediol and biomass-based succinic acid or dimethyl succinate. The biomass carbon ratio calculated from (14)C concentrations measured by accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS) verified that the PBS obtained in this study contained only biomass carbon. The polycondensation of biomass-based 1,4-butanediol and petroleum-based terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate gave partially biomass-based poly(butylene terephthalate), which is an engineering plastic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biomass*
  • Butylene Glycols / chemical synthesis*
  • Butylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Carbon / analysis*
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Esterification
  • Furaldehyde / chemistry*
  • Hydrogenation
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymers / chemistry

Substances

  • Butylene Glycols
  • Polymers
  • bionole
  • Carbon
  • Cellulose
  • Furaldehyde