Biomass processing platforms

Just as the chemical-catalytic approach to biomass processing is poised to come to the fore of biorefining, the furanic family of carbohydrate derivatives, HMF1, CMF 2, and LA 4, are the platforms from which this disruptive innovation in green chemistry will be launched. The primary, secondary, tertiary, etc., generations of their derivatives are like the branches of a tree, fanning out over virtually every... 

Platform compounds are further converted to products by microbial fermentation processes. Saccharification and fermentation can be accomplished in a sequential process by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), or in a consolidated one-pot process known as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of single sugars or simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) of all monosaccharides. Future developments might even combine the production of saccharolytic enzymes, the hydrolysis of cellulose, and hemicellulose to monomeric sugars and the fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars in a single process, the so-called consolidated biomass processing (CBP) (Menon and Rao 2012). 

Holtzapple, M. and C. Granda (2009). Carboxylate platform The MixAlco process. Part 1 Comparison of three biomass conversion platforms. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 156(1) 95-106. 

De, S., Saha, B., Luque, R., 2015. Hydrodeoxygenation processes advances on catalytic transformations of biomass-derived platform chemical into hydrocarbon fuels. Bioresource Technology 178, 108-118. 

Petroleum-based feedstocks continue to become more expensive and, consequently, chemists are being challenged to devise processes that utilize biomass-derived feedstocks. In one of the latest developments, Claus Christensen and co-workers at the Center for Sustainable Green Chemistry at the Technical University of Denmark, in Lyngby, have described a gold-catalyzed procedure for selective oxidation of the biomass-derived platform chemicals furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural... 

The microorganisms determined as active biomass constitute a central platform for description of the processes in a sewer. Classification of the microorganisms will, however, not be dealt with as a major subject in this context. But, it is especially important to determine under which redox conditions the microorganisms are active. 

This chapter surveys different process options to convert terpenes, plant oils, carbohydrates and lignocellulosic materials into valuable chemicals and polymers. Three different strategies of conversion processes integrated in a biorefinery scheme are proposed from biomass to bioproducts via degraded molecules , from platform molecules to bioproducts , and from biomass to bioproducts via new synthesis routes . Selected examples representative of the three options are given. Attention is focused on conversions based on one-pot reactions involving one or several catalytic steps that could be used to replace conventional synthetic routes developed for hydrocarbons. 

Conversion of such biomass into chemicals may be expected to have a much longer future perspective. Most chapters in this book are committed to the catalysis of biomass feedstock to bulk or fine chemicals. Here one notes the need to define platform molecules and their conversion technologies as well as the need for more insights in the fundamental catalysis of these processes. 

Hydrogen production. Intensive R D is underway on the production of hydrogen from natural gas and biomass. Concerning biological hydrogen, a national co-operative platform has been formed with 11 institutes and universities. In addition, thermal (pyrolysis) and hydrothermal processes are being studied at multiple places. Other research areas include various thermal and hydrothermal processes (BTC, TNO, ECN), and hydrogen from electricity produce by renewables (solar, wind, and tidal power). 

Abstract The dimerization of 1,3-dienes (e.g. butadiene) with the addition of a protic nucleophile (e.g. methanol) yields 2,7-octadienyl ethers in the so-called telomerization reaction. This reaction is most efficiently catalyzed by homogeneous palladium complexes. The field has experienced a renaissance in recent years as many of the platform molecules that can be renewably obtained from biomass are well-suited to act as multifunctional nucleophiles in this reaction. In addition, the process adheres to many of the principles of green chemistry, given that the reaction is 100% atom efficient and produces little waste. The telomerization reaction thus provides a versatile route for the production of valuable bulk and specialty chemicals that are (at least partly) green and renewable. The use of various multifunctional substrates that can be obtained from biomass is covered in this review, as well as mechanistic aspects of the telomerization reaction. 

Even though the yields obtained in yeast are not yet comparable with those obtained with LAB, S. cerevisiae has great potential for the development of a cost-competitive process, leading to the conclusion that this eukaryotic host can represent an alternative production platform to LAB. The production of lactic acid from biomass with LAB has already been the object of investigation [153] nevertheless, the advances obtained with S. cerevisiae in using raw biomass as substrate represent important drivers for exploiting this yeast for chemicals production. 

Hydroxypropanoic acid (3HPA) is under development as a future platform chemical and monomer derived from biomass. It is, at the present time, not produced on an industrial scale, either chemically or biotechnologically. 3HPA could be a key compound for the production of biomass-derived C3 intermediates, such as acrylic acid, acrylic amide and malonic acid (see Fig. 8.11). Hydrogenation of 3HPA would provide a competing procedure for the production of 1,3PD (see Section 8.2.4) that could be more economical than the DuPont and Shell processes [65]. 

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