Optimization of a novel biorefinery cascade for cellulose valorization

The aim of the thesis was to optimize the reaction conditions of a novel biorefinery cascade, starting from cellulose. The first step was the hydrolysis of cellulose in water towards glucose, using sulphuric acid as catalyst. The resulting mixture was then used to convert glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in a biphasic system with alumina gamma acid as catalyst and calcium chloride. The organic solvent used for the biphasic system was ethyl acetate. Its stability was tested under the reaction conditions used for the second and third step, as well as its extraction ability of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from the aqueous phase. In the end ethyl acetate enriched with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, was collected and reduced with molecular hydrogen to 5-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofurfural employing different palladium based catalyst, solvent and reaction conditions.