Glucaric acid applications

The application of more-severe reaction-conditions, such as a reaction temperature of 50° with a platinum-on-carbon catalyst, results in attack on the primary hydroxyl group at C-6 thus, a 54% yield of D-glucaric acid is obtained from D-glucose. Aldoses are selectively attacked at the carbonyl group at room temperature, whereas, at higher temperatures, the hydroxyl group on C-6 is also oxidized, with the production of a glycaric acid. 

Given that D-glucose, produced on a massive scale worldwide by starch hydrolysis, is by far the most available and inexpensive aldose, the corresponding aldaric acid, D-glucaric acid, would appear to be the most attractive aldaric acid for commercial development. This report will focus on several potentially important aldaric acids, consider some of their applications as standalone chemicals, and describe how diey can be used as diacid monomers for the preparation of assorted polyamides, labeled polyhydroxypolyamides (PHPAs) or Hy oxylated Nylons. 

A number of the plications also list L-tartaric acid and D-glucaric acid as having comparable properties, both being hydroxy acids and chelators. When inexpensive glucaric acid becomes commercially available on a significant scale, it has applications waiting for a supply and could overtake uses now dominated by tartaric acid. Additional applications unique to glucaric acid will also benefit fiom a dependable source. 

Potential Commercial Markets - Aldaric acids, and in particular D-glucaric acid, represent a class of molecules whose direct use potential and synthetic potential have yet to be realized. Thus one can only speculate on the market potential they may have. Their monetary value will depend on to what extent they become commercially available and at what cost, and how many applications become economical. However, these acids are derived from renewable agriculture resources (in particular starch), and the growing trend toward adding value to ag materials will sooner or later drive their production and applications development. When that occurs we will know how much they are actually worth. 

Glucaric acid can provide an initial point for the production of a wide range of products with applicability in high-volume markets. 

The development of a proficient method for the production of glucaric acid will also be applicable to the efficient oxidation of other low-cost sugars studied in this assessment, such as xylose or arabinose (Werpy and Petersen, 2004). 

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