Preparation of butyrates by one-pot catalytical hydrogenolysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a novel biomaterial for energy storage, was converted to butyrates and butanol via a one-step catalytical hydrogenation. High yields of bio-oils (80.5 wt%) were obtained under a typical reaction condition (Pd/C: PHB = 1: 10, 200 °C, 24 h, 1100 r/min). The collected bio-oils contained butyrates (44.06 wt%), butanol (27.37 wt%) and butyric acid with an estimated higher heating value (HHV) of 33.0 MJ/kg. The syngas composed mainly of methane and butane, had an LHV of 65.7 MJ/m 3 , even higher than that of natural gas (38.5 MJ/m 3 ). Under the reaction conditions, the regenerated Pd/C showed almost perfect reusability.