Development of new route for the production of isoprene

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01711
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 27030:Catalyst and resource chemical process-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Satoshi 千葉大学, 大学院工学研究院, 教授 (30187190)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: イソプレン生成反応 / 3-メチル-1,3-ブタンジオール / 脱水反応 / 不飽和アルコール中間体 / 酸塩基協奏反応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, catalytic chemistry of several new formation routes was investigated in order to develop new routes for isoprene production, which is expected to be in short supply in the future. The dehydration of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol (MBDO) was investigated as well as the dehydration reaction characteristics of three unsaturated alcohols (UOLs), which are considered to be reaction intermediates. The dehydration of MBDO using rare earth zirconates and other catalysts was investigated, and Y2Zr2O7 and Yb2O3 were identified as effective catalysts with high UOL formation capacity. As a result of the investigation of reaction conditions, it was confirmed that Y2Zr2O7 and Yb2O3 catalysts showed efficient isoprene formation activity at 375°C and 450°C, respectively, in the dehydration of MBDO to isoprene.

Free Research Field

触媒プロセス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

3-メチル-1,3-ブタンジオールからジオレフィンであるイソプレンを生成する反応に対して、Y2Zr2O7およびYb2O3のような酸化物触媒の特定結晶面の酸素欠損点が効果的に機能すること、この反応は２段階の脱水反応で進行し、１段目の不飽和アルコールへの脱水反応と２段目のイソプレンへの脱水反応の活性点の機能が異なることを被毒実験等により明らかにした。このことは触媒化学の発展の上で新しい提案であり、学術的意義は大きい。また、将来的な供給不足が懸念されるイソプレン製造に対するオプションをバイオマスから誘導可能な化合物からの製造可能性を提案できた意義も大きい。