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Novel process for lignin dissolution from plant biomass
F O C U S University of Wisconsin, Madison, in producing aromatic chemicals such as toluene and benzene out of biomass. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 12 May 2014, 92 (19), 17 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2014
NEW TECHNOLOGY University of Delaware’s CCEI & ExxonMobil to research on producing renewable chemicals from biomass The Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI), a US Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Center led by the University of Delaware in the US has announced a two-year research programme with ExxonMobil. The research will focus on converting non-food lignocellulosic biomass such as trees and grasses to polymers that are identical to existing petrochemical products. The CCEI’s research focuses on using high throughput and low cost thermochemical non-biological catalysts to yield direct-replacement chemicals. Bio-derived directreplacement chemicals can be directly blended at any ratio with existing petrochemical products. Original Source: University of Delaware, 2014. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 11 Apr 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4polymers.com)
IBN researchers discover process to synthesize adipic acid directly from sugars Researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have discovered a new chemical process that can produce bio-based adipic acid directly from sugar. The new chemical catalytic protocol designed by IBN is simple, efficient and green. Mucic acid from fruit peels is first oxidized from sugars. To convert mucic acid to adipic acid, the researchers combined deoxydehydration and transfer hydrogenation reaction with an alcohol solvent. In one reactor, they could obtain a high yield of adipic acid at 99% relative to the starting material. Existing protocols can only achieve a JULY 2014
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yield of around 60%. This method is ideal for industrial development because the process can be performed in one or two steps, the end product is pure, and the reaction conditions are mild and safe. The work was funded by a grant from the A*STAR Science and Engineering Research Council to develop chemicals from biomass. Original Source: A*STAR, 2014. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 18 Apr 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4polymers.com)
liquid salts known as protic ionic liquids, lignin is dissolved leaving the cellulose as solid for removing lignin from plant biomass used for the production of biofuels. The protic ionic liquids are mixed with the biomass, heated and stirred. The lignin dissolves in the protic ionic liquids, leaving the cellulose as a solid, which can be filtered out of the mixture for further processing. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Mar 2014, 78 (3), 10 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2014
Total, IFP develops new catalyst system A new catalyst and production system that will produce ethylene via biobased ethanol dehydration was developed by IFP Énergies Nouvelles (together with its affiliate Axens) and Total. The low-cost technology can be integrated with downstream resin manufacturing or with ethanol production. The partners have expressed their plans to commercialize the catalyst and license the technology. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 31 Mar 2014, 92 (13), 11 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org)
Newly discovered enzyme for cellulose and xylose CeIA, an enzyme that can digest cellulose almost twice as fast as the existing leading cellulases, has been discovered by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The enzyme which comes from the bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, has two complementary catalytic domains with three binding molecules, which is claimed to account for its superior performance at its optimal temperature of 50°C. It is also active against xylose. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Mar 2014, 78 (3), 10 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2014
Novel process for lignin dissolution from plant biomass A simple and cheaper method of removing lignin from plant biomass used in producing biofuels has been developed by scientists at North Carolina State University. By using
PATENTS Catalytic hydrotreatment of a pyrolysis oil This is a process for treating a pyrolysis oil made from lignocellulose. It is partially hydro-deoxygenated by heating with hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst. Many catalysts are mentioned but the one exemplified is ruthenium on carbon. The product is blended with a hydrotreated gas oil and then hydrogenated over a pre-sulfided nickelmolybdenum hydrotreatment catalyst. US 8,748,680, Shell Oil Co, Houston, TX, USA, 10 Jun 2014
Catalytic hydrothermal treatment of biomass This process is designed to treat algal biomass. It is hydrothermally treated in the presence of a dissolved catalyst such as a salt of Cr, Mo, Ni, Co, or Mn. The process may involve dewaxing, and can be adapted to provide phosphorus recovery. US 8,704,020, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co, Annandale, NJ, USA, 22 Apr 2014
Producing aromatic hydrocarbons from lignocellulose In this process, the ground lignocellulose is slurried with an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon mixture and catalytically hydrogenated. The catalyst has both a hydrogenation function and an acidic function. US 8,754,275, UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA, 17 Jun 2014
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NEW TECHNOLOGY University of Delaware’s CCEI & ExxonMobil to research on producing renewable chemicals from biomass The Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI), a US Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Center led by the University of Delaware in the US has announced a two-year research programme with ExxonMobil. The research will focus on converting non-food lignocellulosic biomass such as trees and grasses to polymers that are identical to existing petrochemical products. The CCEI’s research focuses on using high throughput and low cost thermochemical non-biological catalysts to yield direct-replacement chemicals. Bio-derived directreplacement chemicals can be directly blended at any ratio with existing petrochemical products. Original Source: University of Delaware, 2014. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 11 Apr 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4polymers.com)
IBN researchers discover process to synthesize adipic acid directly from sugars Researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have discovered a new chemical process that can produce bio-based adipic acid directly from sugar. The new chemical catalytic protocol designed by IBN is simple, efficient and green. Mucic acid from fruit peels is first oxidized from sugars. To convert mucic acid to adipic acid, the researchers combined deoxydehydration and transfer hydrogenation reaction with an alcohol solvent. In one reactor, they could obtain a high yield of adipic acid at 99% relative to the starting material. Existing protocols can only achieve a JULY 2014
O N
C ATA LY S T S
yield of around 60%. This method is ideal for industrial development because the process can be performed in one or two steps, the end product is pure, and the reaction conditions are mild and safe. The work was funded by a grant from the A*STAR Science and Engineering Research Council to develop chemicals from biomass. Original Source: A*STAR, 2014. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 18 Apr 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4polymers.com)
liquid salts known as protic ionic liquids, lignin is dissolved leaving the cellulose as solid for removing lignin from plant biomass used for the production of biofuels. The protic ionic liquids are mixed with the biomass, heated and stirred. The lignin dissolves in the protic ionic liquids, leaving the cellulose as a solid, which can be filtered out of the mixture for further processing. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Mar 2014, 78 (3), 10 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2014
Total, IFP develops new catalyst system A new catalyst and production system that will produce ethylene via biobased ethanol dehydration was developed by IFP Énergies Nouvelles (together with its affiliate Axens) and Total. The low-cost technology can be integrated with downstream resin manufacturing or with ethanol production. The partners have expressed their plans to commercialize the catalyst and license the technology. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 31 Mar 2014, 92 (13), 11 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org)
Newly discovered enzyme for cellulose and xylose CeIA, an enzyme that can digest cellulose almost twice as fast as the existing leading cellulases, has been discovered by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The enzyme which comes from the bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, has two complementary catalytic domains with three binding molecules, which is claimed to account for its superior performance at its optimal temperature of 50°C. It is also active against xylose. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Mar 2014, 78 (3), 10 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2014
Novel process for lignin dissolution from plant biomass A simple and cheaper method of removing lignin from plant biomass used in producing biofuels has been developed by scientists at North Carolina State University. By using
PATENTS Catalytic hydrotreatment of a pyrolysis oil This is a process for treating a pyrolysis oil made from lignocellulose. It is partially hydro-deoxygenated by heating with hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst. Many catalysts are mentioned but the one exemplified is ruthenium on carbon. The product is blended with a hydrotreated gas oil and then hydrogenated over a pre-sulfided nickelmolybdenum hydrotreatment catalyst. US 8,748,680, Shell Oil Co, Houston, TX, USA, 10 Jun 2014
Catalytic hydrothermal treatment of biomass This process is designed to treat algal biomass. It is hydrothermally treated in the presence of a dissolved catalyst such as a salt of Cr, Mo, Ni, Co, or Mn. The process may involve dewaxing, and can be adapted to provide phosphorus recovery. US 8,704,020, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co, Annandale, NJ, USA, 22 Apr 2014
Producing aromatic hydrocarbons from lignocellulose In this process, the ground lignocellulose is slurried with an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon mixture and catalytically hydrogenated. The catalyst has both a hydrogenation function and an acidic function. US 8,754,275, UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA, 17 Jun 2014
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