Peracetic Acid Depolymerization of Biorefinery Lignin for Production of Selective Monomeric Phenolic Compounds

Lignin is the largest source of renewable material with an aromatic skeleton. However, due to the recalcitrant and heterogeneous nature of the lignin polymer, it has been a challenge to effectively depolymerize lignin and produce high‐value chemicals with high selectivity. In this study, a highly efficient lignin‐to‐monomeric phenolic compounds (MPC) conversion method based on peracetic acid (PAA) treatment was reported. PAA treatment of two biorefinery lignin samples, diluted acid pretreated corn stover lignin (DACSL) and steam exploded spruce lignin (SESPL), led to complete solubilization and production of selective hydroxylated monomeric phenolic compounds (MPC‐H) and monomeric phenolic acid compounds (MPC‐A) including 4‐hydroxy‐2‐methoxyphenol, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid. The maximized MPC yields obtained were 18 and 22 % based on the initial weight of the lignin in SESPL and DACSL, respectively. However, we found that the addition of niobium pentoxide catalyst to PAA treatment of lignin can significantly improve the MPC yields up to 47 %. The key reaction steps and main mechanisms involved in this new lignin‐to‐MPC valorization pathway were investigated and elucidated.     

Photoinduced depolymerization in poly(olefin sulfone) films comprised of volatile monomers doped with a photobase generator

Photoinduced depolymerization of poly(olefin sulfone)s mixed with a photobase generating compound was investigated. Irradiation of 254 nm UV light to films comprising of a mixture of a photobase generating compound and poly(olefin sulfone)s with volatile monomers caused photoinduced depolymerization and the irradiated part of the film vaporized. The effect of the poly(olefin sulfone) structure on the photoinduced depolymerization process was investigated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

On the theory of radical depolymerization: A rigorous solution

A rigorous solution to a model of radical depolymerization is presented. The model includes random chain scission, depropagation, radical transfer, and first‐order radical termination. The evolution of the molecular weight distribution in the course of depolymerization has been determined under the condition that the initial polymer is characterized by Flory's distribution. The kinetic equations consider the presence of chains with two radicalized ends, which are usually neglected. The commonly used simplifying assumption of the steady‐state radical concentration is not employed, and this makes the obtained results valid at any ratios between the rate constants. The predictions of the steady‐state approximation are compared to those of the rigorous approach in the case of depolymerization accompanied by volatilization of monomeric species. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 965–982, 2003     

Mild depolymerization of silicone grease using aluminum(III)chloride: high‐yield synthesis and crystal structure of [{ClSiMe2OAlCl2}2], and its controlled hydrolysis on aluminum surfaces

Reaction of AlCl₃ with {Me₂SiO}_n (Dow‐Corning high‐vacuum grease) at an Al : Si ratio of 1 : 1 in hexane at room temperature yielded a large crop of colorless crystals of [{ClSiMe₂OAlCl₂}₂], which were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and NMR. These crystals hydrolyzed on an aluminum surface to give a coating of silicone oil interspersed with particles of [Al(OH₂)₆]Cl₃, as determined by powder X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利用微生物本身的PHAs解聚酶生产羟基丁酸单体

金黄芽孢杆菌Bacillus aureus JMα5先在糖蜜上发酵积累聚羟基丁酸酯（PHB）,然后在限氧条件下降解生成手性羟基丁酸（HB）分子。研究各种培养条件如pH值、温度、时间等对该菌降解生产手性HB分子的影响。结果表明,37℃下,当pH=6时,10h内,HB单体的产量可达3．04g/L,降解率为75％,说明采用酶降解法生产HB单体具有一定的实际应用价值。在各种影响因素（包括降解体系的pH值、降解的温度和降解时间等）中,pH值对降解率的影响最大。     

Self‐Immolative Poly(4,5‐dichlorophthalaldehyde) and its Applications in Multi‐Stimuli‐Responsive Macroscopic Plastics

End‐capped poly(4,5‐dichlorophthalaldehyde) (PCl₂PA), which is a new self‐immolative CD_r polymer with the unique capability of depolymerizing continuously and completely in the solid state when an end cap is cleaved from the polymer by reaction with a specific molecular signal, is described. End‐capped poly(4,5‐dichlorophthalaldehyde) is sufficiently stable to enable patterning of three‐dimensional macroscopic polymeric materials by selective laser sintering. These unique materials are capable of 1) autonomously amplifying macroscopic changes in the material in response to specific molecular inputs, and 2) altering their responses depending on the identity of the applied signal. Thus, not only does end‐capped PCl₂PA provide new and unique capabilities compared to the small subset of existing CD_r polymers, but it also provides access to a new class of stimuli‐responsive materials.     

Cu催化羟基自由基氧化断裂纤维二糖分子糖苷键反应及其在纤维素低温解聚中的应用

纤维素是葡萄糖通过β-1,4-糖苷键链接而成的高聚物,在木质纤维素中含量最高,结构稳定,较难水解.糖苷键的解聚主要有三种方式:酶水解、酸水解以及碱降解.酶解的优点是反应条件温和、副产物少,但存在成本高、活性低等缺点,限制了其大规模的工业化生产.碱水解纤维素的同时伴随着葡萄糖的peeling-off反应得到异变糖酸,需要消耗大量的碱,并且强碱也存在腐蚀性强和回收难等问题.酸水解是目前工业上常用的纤维素水解方法,在保持较高葡萄糖选择性的同时,通过对反应条件的控制(提高反应温度和酸浓度)来提高纤维素的水解效率,但是硫酸对设备的腐蚀性强,也难以回收,不符合绿色化学的发展要求.固体酸是近年来研究较多的纤维素水解催化剂.固体酸虽然腐蚀性弱、易回收,但是其活性低,水热稳定性较差,目前还不具备大规模生产的条件.本文发展了一种羟基自由基活化断裂糖苷键的方法,利用羟基自由基的高活性在低温下实现糖苷键的选择性断裂,同时羟基自由基与糖苷键作用后转化为无毒无害的水和氧气,将不会对环境造成污染.我们首先以纤维二糖作为纤维素的模型分子,通过羟基自由基能够优先与糖苷键反应得到葡萄糖和葡萄糖酸的实验证实所提出的方法的可行性.实验表明,来自H2O2的·OH自由基能够在铜基催化剂作用下选择性氧化断裂其糖苷键,生成葡萄糖和葡萄糖酸.比如:采用均相CuSO4体系,纤维二糖转化率约为20%时,葡萄糖和葡萄糖酸的选择性分别为28.5%和32.3%.采用多相CuO/SiO2(4 wt%CuO)体系,纤维二糖转化率约为20%时,葡萄糖和葡萄糖酸的选择性约分别为23.3%和25.7%,并且该催化剂具有良好的循环使用性能.与·OH类似,CuSO4催化过硫酸钾生成的·SO4-自由基也能够有效转化纤维二糖,在纤维二糖转化率为20%时,葡萄糖和葡萄糖酸的选择性分别为36.6%和39.9%.利用这种·OH和·SO4-自由基氧化的方法,也能够在较低温度下(333 K)解聚纤维素中的糖苷键.我们发展了H2O2浸渍预处理纤维浸渍预处理纤维素的方法,通过部分破坏纤维素糖苷键,提高了纤维素的水解活性.比如:处理后的纤维素在413 K条件下反应12 h,纤维素转化率和葡萄糖选择性分别达到约36.1%和42.5%.XRD结果表明,处理后的纤维素的晶体结构未发生明显的变化.FT-IR表征结果显示处理后的纤维素表面生成了大量的羧酸基团.     

Effect of layered double hydroxides on the thermal degradation behavior of biodegradable poly(l-lactide) nanocomposites

This study elucidates the thermal degradation behavior of biodegradable poly(l-lactide) (PLLA)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites was explored using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (Py-GC/MS) in an inert atmosphere. PLLA/LDH nanocomposites were fabricated using PLLA and organically-modified magnesium/aluminum layered double hydroxide (P-LDH) in tetrahydrofuran solution. According to the TGA results, the thermal stability of PLLA/P-LDH nanocomposites was significantly lower than that of pure PLLA matrix, perhaps because P-LDH provides thermal acceleration of the degradation of the underlying polymer from the heat source. The identification of the thermal degradation products by Py-GC/MS evidently shows that introducing P-LDH into PLLA leads to a remarkable change during the thermal degradation process. The main reaction route of neat PLLA was through inter- and intra-transesterification to generate lactides and oligomer. The primary volatile products obtained from PLLA/P-LDH nanocomposites were lactides regardless of the temperature of degradation. These results suggest that the thermal degradation behavior of PLLA/P-LDH nanocomposites is governed by the preferential formation of lactide by the unzipping depolymerization reaction, which is catalyzed by Mg and Al components in P-LDH.