Unlocking the value of food waste: sustainable production of ethylene glycol over low-cost Ni-W catalysts supported on glucose-derived carbons

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Lucília Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Rafael Morais (Author) FEUP; José Melo Orfão (Author) FEUP; Manuel Fernando R Pereira (Author) FEUP

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS

Vol. 8

Pages: 4588-4601

ISSN: 2398-4902

Publisher: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Associated Projects

LA LSRE-LCM - Financiamento Plurianual 2020-2023 para a Unidade LA LSRE-LCM Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

ALiCE - ALiCE - Laboratório Associado em Engenharia Química

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-016-WWX

DOI: 10.1039/d4se00823e

Abstract (EN): Food waste is abundant and holds great potential to be converted into valuable chemicals like ethylene glycol (EG), which is a key compound for the production of commodity polymers and other specialty products. Therefore, the direct conversion of food waste could represent a pivotal alternative for the sustainable production of EG. Nickel-tungsten catalysts supported on glucose-derived carbons were synthesized and evaluated for EG direct production from cellulose and cellulosic urban wastes. A remarkable yield of EG of 62% was attained directly from cellulose after 5 h, while the optimized catalyst allowed to reach notable EG yields around 40% from cellulosic wastes. Furthermore, as far as we are concerned, no previous works have reported the conversion of food wastes, such as fruit peels, directly into EG. Therefore, we report the environmentally friendly production of EG from banana peel, orange peel and spent coffee grounds with promising yields of up to 21%. Low-cost Ni-W catalysts supported on glucose-based carbons were efficient for the sustainable ethylene glycol production directly from cellulose and wastes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14