Scientists from Tomsk State University together with their colleagues from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indore) developed catalysts for the production of hydrogen, gluconic and glucaric acids. These compounds can be applied in various fields - pharmaceuticals, household chemistry and agrochemistry, metallurgy and energy. Among other things, organic waste will be used as a raw material. Such approaches to the production of gluconic, glucaric acids and hydrogen will reduce the dependence of Russia's chemical and energy industries on imports.
- As part of our joint Russian-Indian project, we are developing a new approach for the efficient production of gluconic and glucaric acids and hydrogen using heterogeneous catalysts, says Irina Kurzina, the project manager, Professor at the TSU Faculty of Chemistry and Director of the Institute of Smart Materials and Technology. - Previously, these products were mainly supplied to Russia from European countries. However, currently it is almost impossible to get these products.
The project "Catalytic materials for efficient production of gluconic / glucaric acids and hydrogen by oxidation of glucose from biomass" is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (grant 075-15-2023-468).
During two years of joint study, the research team developed a line of catalysts for the production of high-margin goods. In particular, TSU chemists created a technology that makes it possible to convert glucose into gluconic acid. The advantage of the new approach is that it allows obtaining a pure product that does not have to be separated from by-product impurities.
Indian colleagues developed palladium-bismuth, palladium-iron and nickel-iron systems that can produce hydrogen during biomass processing by electrolytic decomposition of gluconic and glucaric acids. Corn stalk, sugar cane and wheat straw were used in the study.
The advantage of catalysts created within the framework of the international project is their multiple use nature. Unlike foreign analogs, the new catalytic materials do not wash out the active component. The multiple use of catalysts in several cycles significantly increases the profitability of production.
The results of the study were accepted for publication in the Inorganics journal (Q2).
At the final stage of the project it is planned to finalize the experimental data, systematize the obtained results and identify the most efficient samples that contribute to the production of hydrogen, gluconic and glucaric acids with the highest yield.
It should be added that Russia has huge reserves of forest resources (wood, sawdust, chips) and agricultural waste (straw, corn stalks, sunflower husks). India is a major producer of agricultural products (rice, sugarcane, cotton, cereals). Most agricultural waste can be effectively processed into valuable products.
If the project is successful, Russia and India can become major global exporters of hydrogen gluconic and glucaric acids derived from plant raw materials.
