Abstract the Abstract

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Technical Paper

Multifunctional Amine Modifier for Selective Dehydration of Methyl Lactate to Acrylates

Yutong, P. et al.

For the Scientist in You

Researchers evaluated the use of a Na-FAU zeolite catalyst impregnated with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (12BPE) and 4,4′-trimethylenedipyridine (44TMDP) for the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate.

The diamine impregnated Na-FAU catalyst showed a high dehydration selectivity of 96% and a high yield of 92% at a selectivity of 96% with 44TMDP impregnated Na-FAU, making it the highest yield reported to date.

The amine loadings in Na-FAU remained constant for 12BPE but decreased as much as 83% for 44TMDP during continuous reaction at 300°C.

For the Rest of Us

Researchers have found a new way to convert a compound called methyl lactate into useful chemicals called acrylic acid and methyl acrylate.

They used a special material called a zeolite, which helped to speed up the reaction. The researchers also added special molecules called diamines to the zeolite to make it work even better.

They tested two different diamines and found that one of them worked best, giving the highest yield of useful chemicals. The researchers hope that this new method could be used to make these important chemicals more efficient and sustainable in the future.

Why is This Interesting?

This research is of interest because the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate is an important reaction in the production of various chemicals, such as coatings, adhesives, and plastics.

Additionally, the use of diamine impregnated zeolite catalysts for this reaction has the potential to offer a more selective and efficient process, leading to higher yields of desired products.

The high yield and selectivity achieved in this study, particularly with the 44TMDP impregnated Na-FAU catalyst, suggests a promising new direction for catalyst development in this important industrial process.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Diamine impregnated Na-FAU zeolite catalysts can be used to selectively dehydrate methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate with high selectivity and yield.
2. The diamines used in the catalyst (12BPE and 44TMDP) interact with internal active sites of Na-FAU, which promotes the reaction.
3. Tuning the weighted hourly space velocity (WHSV) from 0.9 to 0.2 h-1 using 44TMDP impregnated Na-FAU catalysts can lead to the highest yield reported to date, at a selectivity of 96%.

3 Questions for the Author(s)

1. What led you to choose the Na-FAU zeolite catalyst for this reaction, and how does it compare to other catalysts for the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate?
2. What were the key factors that led to the high selectivity and yield achieved with the 44TMDP impregnated Na-FAU catalyst, and how does it compare to the 12BPE impregnated catalyst?
3. Can you provide more detail on the mechanism of the reaction over the diamine impregnated Na-FAU catalyst and the role of the diamines in promoting the reaction?

3 Possible Follow-Up Experiments

1. Optimization of the loading and type of diamine impregnated on Na-FAU catalyst for the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate. Different types of diamines and loadings could be tested to find the most effective catalyst for this reaction.
2. Study of the effect of reaction conditions on the performance of the diamine impregnated Na-FAU catalyst. For example, the effect of temperature, pressure, and space velocity could be studied to determine the optimal conditions for this reaction.
3. Investigation of the mechanism of the dehydration reaction over the diamine impregnated Na-FAU catalyst. This could involve the use of kinetic studies and/or in-situ spectroscopy to gain a better understanding of the reaction mechanism and active sites on the catalyst.

Tech Terms

• Multifunctional diamines: A class of organic molecules that have two or more amine functional groups (-NH2). These compounds are often used as catalysts or co-catalysts in various chemical reactions due to their ability to form strong interactions with metal ions or other catalyst surfaces.
• Na-FAU zeolite catalyst: A type of zeolite material that has a specific crystal structure and is used as a catalyst in various chemical reactions. Na-FAU zeolite is named for its high sodium content and its similarity to the FAU-type zeolite framework structure.
• Dehydration: A chemical reaction in which water is removed from a molecule or a mixture of molecules, often resulting in the formation of a new compound.
• Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate: Organic compounds that are commonly used as monomers in the production of polymers and plastics.
• Selectivity: A measure of the ability of a catalyst or reaction to produce a desired product without forming unwanted byproducts. In this case, the selectivity of the reaction is measured by the percentage of the initial reactant that is converted to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate.
• Weighted hourly space velocity (WHSV): A measure of the mass of reactant that passes through a fixed catalyst bed per unit of time per unit of catalyst weight. This parameter is often used to optimize reaction conditions and determine the maximum yield of a desired product.
• Infrared spectroscopy: A technique used to identify and characterize the chemical bonds and functional groups present in a sample by analyzing its absorption and transmission of infrared light.
• Methyl lactate: An organic compound that is often used as a solvent, a flavoring agent, and a starting material for the synthesis of various chemicals.
• 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (12BPE) and 4,4′-trimethylenedipyridine (44TMDP): Two specific multifunctional diamines that were used as catalysts in the experiments described in the abstract. These compounds were impregnated onto the Na-FAU zeolite catalyst to enhance its selectivity and yield for the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate.
• Van der Waals diameter: A measure of the size of a molecule or an atom, based on its interaction with other molecules or atoms via van der Waals forces. This parameter is often used to estimate the size of a molecule relative to the size of a catalyst pore or window.
• Time on stream: A measure of the duration of a continuous reaction in a fixed-bed reactor, typically expressed in hours or minutes. This parameter is often used to evaluate the stability and effectiveness of a catalyst over time.
• Internal active sites: Specific regions or sites within a catalyst material that are responsible for promoting a particular reaction or mechanism. In this case, the internal active sites of the Na-FAU zeolite catalyst are responsible for the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate, and the multifunctional diamines are used to enhance the selectivity and yield of the reaction.

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