Patent ID: 8846974
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: B01J,C07C

Abstract:
1. A method of converting cellulosic biomass materials to glycolic acid, comprising the steps of reacting one or more cellulosic biomass materials with molybdenum-containing acidic catalysts under oxygen atmosphere in water medium to produce glycolic acid, wherein the molybdenum-containing acidic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of heteropoly acids, heteropolyacid salts, and isopoly acids, and wherein when the catalyst is a heteropoly acid or heteropolyacid salt it is represented by the chemical formula: wherein A is one element independently selected from the group consisting of P, As, Si, Ge, Ce, Th, Mn, Ni, Te, I, Co, Ga, and Fe; w is 1-10; x is 0-5; y is 1-50; and, z is 1-200, and wherein when the catalyst is an isopoly acid it is represented by the chemical formula H wherein w is 1-10; y is 1-50; and, z is 1-200.