PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF 2.3-PENTANEDIONE FROM LACTIC ACID

RESEARCH IS PROPOSED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF 2,3-PENTANEDIONE PRODUCTION FROM LACTIC ACID IN A CONTINUOUS, CATALYTIC PROCESS. THE INCREASING LOW-COST AVAILABILITY OF LACTIC ACID MAKES 2,3-PENTANEDIONE MANUFACTURE POSSIBLE WELL BELOW CURRENT COSTS AND WILL OPEN NEW MARKETS FOR THIS DIKETONE. POTENTIAL APPLICTIONS FOR 2,3-PENTANEDIONE INCLUDE ITS USE AS A FLAVORING AGENT, PHOTOSENSITIVE FREE-RADICAL INITIATOR, SOLVENT, AND AS A STARTING MATERIAL FOR OTHER HIGH-VALUE CHEMICALS. IN PHASE I RESEARCH, LABORATORY STUDIES OF CATALYTIC CONVERSION WILL EXAMINE EXTENDED RESIDENCE TIMES, LOW TEMPERATURES (260-300 DEGREES CENTIGRADE) AND CATALYSTS TO ACHIEVE A TARGET 2,3-PENTANEDIONE YIELD OF +/-50% OF THEORETICAL ALONG WITH HIGH SELECTIVITY. BENCH-SCALE SEPARATION/RECOVERY STUDIES, SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE 2,3-PENTANEDIONE/WATER AZEOTROPE, WILL BE UNDERTAKEN CONCURRENTLY. FINALLY, THE POTENTIAL OF 2,3-PENTANEDIONE USAGE AS A METAL-CHELATING SOLVENT OR INTERMEDIATE FOR PRODUCTION OF QUINONES AND PYRAZINES, WILL BE EXPLORED. THESE PHASE I EFFORTS WILL ESTABLISH THE FEASIBLITY OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION; PHASE II RESEARCH WILL THEN FOCUS ON COMMERCIAL-SCALE REACTOR DESIGN, CONTINUOUS SEPARATION SCHEMES, AND SCALE-UP OF PROMISING APPLICATIONS FOR 2,3-PENTANEDIONE.