Glycerol, butyric acid from formation

Important results have recently been obtained by Simon. Among other things he ascertained that glycerol yields butyric acid. The formation of four-carbon compounds from six-carbon substrates is independent of the grouping (aldehyde, hydroxyl, carboxyl, phosphory-lated hydroxyl) at the first carbon atom of the molecule. L-Rhamnose and D-arabitol are fermented, but not n-arabinose and D-sorbitol. In contrast to the studies of Underkofler and Hunter, " L-sorbose has been found fermentable. Results obtained with fresh and acetone-dried Cl. hutylicum are identical in principle. 

Propylene is, next to ethylene, the most important basic chemical to produce not only polypropylene but also other intermediates for example propylene oxide and acrylonitrile. Just like ethylene, propylene can be produced via a hydrocarbon feedstock produced from a biomass [35-37]. Bio-glycerol produced as a byproduct of biodiesel can be dehydrogenated to produce propylene [48]. Bio-based ethylene can be dimerized to produce n-butene, which can then react with remaining ethylene via metathesis to produce propylene [49]. The use of fermentation products of biomass such as 1-butanol [50] enables the formation of n-butene, followed by a subsequent methathesis [49]. Alternatively, hydrothermal carboxylate reforming of fermentation products such as butyric acid or 3-hydroxybutyrate is also proposed as a viable option to propylene [51]. 

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