Converting carbs to lactic acid with catalysts

Biomass Magazine
May 2010
By Lisa Gibson
Posted May 19, 2010, at 3:29 p.m. CST

A team of researchers from Haldor Topsøe A/S, a Danish catalyst research and development company, and the Technical University of Denmark’s Department of Chemistry have developed a process to convert carbohydrates from biomass into lactic acid using only catalysis.

Traditionally, fermentation is used in the conversion process, but the researchers modified the acidity of a zeolite material catalyst, which is made of silicone oxide and aluminum oxide, to carry out their process, according to Esben Taarning, researcher with Haldor Topsøe. “It is the aluminum oxide that makes the zeolites acidic and by changing the composition of the zeolite to one that is composed of silicon oxide and e.g. tin oxide (no aluminum oxide), the acidic properties change as well,” he said. “In fact, the acidic properties change so dramatically that the modified zeolites are able to catalyze the conversion of carbohydrates to lactic acid derivatives. In comparison, a conventional zeolite is too acidic to afford any useful products at a high selectivity and primarily catalyze dehydration reactions.” Lactic acid products can be used in manufacturing biodegradable plastics and solvents.

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