Valorization of lactose into high value platform chemicals

背景：Agropur每年加工超过60亿升牛奶。因此，合作社留下了大量的渗透物，其中约80%至90%由乳糖（干基）组成。所产生的乳糖并没有给合作社带来多少价值，因为它是作为商品出售的。研究目的：本研究项目的目的是评估将乳糖转化为羟甲基糠醛（HMF）和乙酰丙酸（LA）的潜力，这两种平台化学品具有很高的工业价值，因为它们可用于制造商品化学品、纺织品、催化剂、燃料电池、生物燃料、聚合物、药品、溶剂、树脂和杀菌剂。**根据团队的知识，从乳糖废料中生产HMF从未进行过。纯乳糖和纯半乳糖已被用于合成HMF。已经看到，像**铬盐这样的催化剂对葡萄糖或甘露糖转化为HMF有效，但对半乳糖或乳糖的**转化效果要差得多，这是由于这些糖形成HMF的机制不同。然而，该反应的动力学从未被理解，杂质的存在对HMF和LA产率的影响也从未被研究过。因此，本项目旨在研究乳糖**残基在HMF和LA中的转化。目标是：1。确定反应动力学和2。研究杂质对HMF和LA产率的影响。**对加拿大的好处：据加拿大政府估计，到2015年，绿色化学品的增长率**将达到5.3%，全球市场潜力约为623亿美元。将低价值的生物质转化为平台化学品对加拿大的环境、创造就业和创造收入具有积极影响。

Context: Agropur is processing over 6 billion liters of milk per year. Therefore, the cooperative is left with**enormous quantities of permeate, which is composed of about 80 to 90% of lactose (dry basis). The lactose**generated does not bring much value to the cooperative, as it is sold as a commodity.**Research Objectives: The purpose of this research project is to assess the potential of transforming lactose into**hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and levulinic acid (LA), two platform chemicals of high industrial value as they**can be used in the manufacture of commodity chemicals, textiles, catalysts, fuel cells, biofuels, polymers,**pharmaceuticals, solvents, resins and fungicides.**Based on the team knowledge, the production of HMF from lactose wastes has never been performed. Pure**lactose and pure galactose have been used for the synthesis of HMF. It has been seen that catalysts like**chromium salts that are effective for converting glucose or mannose to HMF are much less effective for the**conversion of galactose or lactose due to differences in the mechanism of HMF formation from these sugars.**However, the kinetics of the reaction has never been understood, and the impact of the presence of impurities**on the yield of HMF and LA has never been studied. Therefore, this project aims at the conversion of lactose**residues in HMF and LA. The objectives are to 1. determine the kinetics of reaction and 2. to study the impact**of the impurities on the yield of HMF and LA.**Benefits to Canada: According to the Government of Canada, the green chemicals growth rate was estimated to**attain 5.3% by 2015 representing about $62.3 US billion global market potential. The conversion of low value**biomass to platform chemicals has a positive impact on the environment, creation of employment, and**generation of revenue for Canada.