Acrylic acid and the four primary acrylate derivatives are the cornerstone of a $12B market with broad application across coatings, adhesives, and the super-absorbent polymers industries. AA and acrylate derivatives are currently produced through a petroleum-derived value chain from propylene creating significant CO₂ emissions; about 3.5 kg CO₂ / kg AA. While AA-derived products are an integral part of modern society, more sustainable and eco-friendly production methods are necessary. Consumers increasingly seek sustainable, non-petroleum-based products in a variety of market segments. We focus on the use of feeds derived from lactic acid, a product sustainably fermented from a range of bio-derived sugar sources.

Our novel bifunctional catalytic process converts biomass-derived lactic acid to acrylates and acrylic acid at >90% yield. The FAU zeolite is modified with engineered bases such as amines to achieve these high yields. The catalytic dehydration of lactates to acrylic acid brings a number of challenges we discuss. Among them are A) control of competing reaction mechanisms, with dehydration and decarbonylation favored under certain reaction conditions, B) characterization of oxygenated products produced during reaction, C) impacts of water on catalysis and hydrolysis of alkyl lactates, and D) impacts of the FAU framework composition on catalysis.