7 b]Explain the synthesis of Adipic acid by conventional route from Benzene and
green route from Glucose.
Adipic acid: Adipic acid is a very important starting material for Nylon-6,6. Adipic
acid is produced annually in more than 2,000 million kg.
- Conventional method: it can be prepared from benzene.
• Benzene is hydrogenated using Ni-Al2O3 catalyst to get cyclohexane.
• This is oxidized using Co catalyst to a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol.
• This is then converted to adipic acid using ammonium vanadate and nitric acid, with the help
of a catalyst
2. Green method:
• Alternative feedstock in the synthesis of adipic acid is D-glucose
• It is converted to muconic acid using E. coli
• It is further hydrogenated to adipic acid using hydrogen gas.