报告题目：A Simplified Route to Prepare Biomass-derived Terephthalic Acid (TA)（从生物质制备对苯二甲酸的简易路径） 

　　报告人：Dr. Zhaohui Tong
　　　　　　Agricultural and Biological Engineering， University of  Florida
　　报告时间：2013年12月20日上午10:30
　　报告地点：制浆造纸工程国家重点实验室306会议室

制浆造纸工程国家重点实验室

2013年11月22日

　　内容简介：
　　A novel synthesis route was reportedto directly transform biomass-derived chemicals (isoprene and acrylic acid) to terephthalic acid (TA) through p-toluic acid (PTA). TA is an important monomer for synthesizing polyesters including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropanediol terephthalate (PPT) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which have broad applications from drink bottles to polyester fibers.  The starting chemicals can be produced from biomass through established chemical processes. Bio-based isoprene can be produced by the fermentation of biomass sugars. Acrylic acid can be produced either from dehydration of glucose-based lactic acid or dehydration and oxidation of glycerol (available in large quantity from biodiesel production). In this study, TA was converted from isoprene and acrylic acid through three simple reactions including Diels-Alder reaction, dehydro-aromatization, and oxidation. The simplified process is based on the efficient dehydro-aromatization reaction of cyclohexene carboxylic acid to PTA using a cost-effective catalyst (sulfuric acid). All three reactions were conducted under mild conditions.  Finally, pure TA was successfully synthesized with the overall yield of approximately 60% and its structure was confirmed by 1H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). Theoretically, at the first time, we elucidated the dehydro-aromatization reaction mechanism of cyclohexene carboxylic acids using sulfuric acid as the catalyst.

　　演讲人简介：
　　Dr. Tongis currently an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida (UF). She obtained her PhD degreefrom Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research areas: 1) synthesis and self-assembling of high value bio-nanocomposites (e.g. lignin, cellulose, and glycerol); 2) Synthesis of solely biomass-derived chemicals (e.g. monomers); and 3) fundamental understanding of lignin structure during lignocellulosic bioconversion processes and its derived high value co-products (materials and drop-in fuels).She won the awarded grants from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy (DOE), and Florida Space Institute in 2011, 2012, and 2013. She won outstanding young extension worker award in Florida Section of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE) in 2013.