Catalytic Transformation of Biomass-Derived Hemicellulose Sugars by the One-Pot Method into Carboxylic Acids Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

This article presents the conditions for the transformation of pulp containing mixtures that occur in the hemicellulose fraction derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Selected materials with strong acid centers were used as catalytic materials: ion exchange resins, including AMBERLYST 15(H) and DOWEX DR-G8(H), and selected zeolite in the hydrogen form of the Beta type (H-BEA). The group was marked with the abbreviations M1, M2 and M3, where it differs in the content of xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and uronic acids. The catalytic process was carried out in the reactor as a one-pot technique at temperatures of 180–250 °C for 1–5 h. Based on the collected results, the transformation products of hemicellulose pulp were determined and the catalytic abilities of selected materials were determined. The proposed conditions led to the production of organic acids. Levulinic acid was obtained with a selectivity of 25.95% after 1 h of the process at a temperature of 250 °C with the participation of H-BEA, and lactic acid was obtained with a selectivity of 73.28% after 5 h of the process at a temperature of 250 °C using DOWEX DRG8(H). The presence of oxalic, propionic and acetic acids was also observed.