Renewable Resources Robert-Jan van Putten,†,‡ Jan C. van der Waal,† Ed de Jong,*,† Carolus B. Rasrendra,‡,⊥ Hero J. Heeres,*,‡ and Johannes G. de Vries* †Avantium Chemicals, Zekeringstraat 29, 1014 BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands ‡Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands DSM Innovative Synthesis BV, P.O. Box 18, 6160 MD Geleen, the Netherlands Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

Hydroxymethylfurfural, A Versatile Platform Chemical Made from Renewable Resources

This critical review provides a survey illustrated by recent references of different strategies to achieve a sustainable conversion of biomass to bioproducts. Because of the huge number of chemical products that can be potentially manufactured, a selection of starting materials and targeted chemicals has been done. Also, thermochemical conversion processes such as biomass pyrolysis or gasification as well as the synthesis of biofuels were not considered. The synthesis of chemicals by conversion of platform molecules obtained by depolymerisation and fermentation of biopolymers is presently the most widely envisioned approach. Successful catalytic conversion of these building blocks into intermediates, specialties and fine chemicals will be examined. However, the platform molecule value chain is in competition with well-optimised, cost-effective synthesis routes from fossil resources to produce chemicals that have already a market. The literature covering alternative value chains whereby biopolymers are converted in one or few steps to functional materials will be analysed. This approach which does not require the use of isolated, pure chemicals is well adapted to produce high tonnage products, such as paper additives, paints, resins, foams, surfactants, lubricants, and plasticisers. Another objective of the review was to examine critically the green character of conversion processes because using renewables as raw materials does not exempt from abiding by green chemistry principles (368 references).

Conversion of biomass to selected chemical products

Lignocellulosic biomass: a sustainable platform for the production of bio-based chemicals and polymers

Conversion of Biomass into Chemicals over Metal Catalysts

Green and sustainable manufacture of chemicals from biomass: state of the art

The first generation of biofuels is presently produced fromsugars, starches, and vegetable oil. Although instrumental indeveloping the market, these biofuels are not likely to deliverthe large volumes needed for the transport sector becausethey directly compete with food for their feedstock. A morepromising feedstock is lignocellulosic material, which is moreabundant, has a lower cost, and is potentially more sustain-able.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/anie.201000655

Valeric Biofuels: A Platform of Cellulosic Transportation Fuels

A process for preparing branched olefins comprising 0.5% or less quaternary aliphatic carbon atoms, which process comprises dehydrogenating an isoparaffinic composition over a suitable catalyst which isoparaffinic composition comprises paraffins having a carbon number in the range of from 7 to 35, of which paraffins at least a portion of the molecules is branched, the average number of branches per paraffin molecule being at least 0.7 and the branching comprising methyl and optionally ethyl branches, and which isoparaffinic composition may be obtained by hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of a paraffinic wax; a method of using olefins for making an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant, in particular a surfactant sulfate or sulfonate, comprising converting the branched olefins into the surfactant; and an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant which is obtainable by the method of use.

A process for preparing a branched olefin, a method of using the branched olefin for making a surfactant and a surfactant

Systems and methods to produced branched aliphatic alcohols are described. Systems may include a dehydrogenation-isomerization unit, an olefin dimerization unit, an olefin isomerization unit, a hydroformylation unit, a dehydrogenation unit, a hydrogenation unit and/or combinations thereof. Methods for producing branched aliphatic alcohols may include isomerization of olefins in a process stream. The isomerized olefins may be hydroformylated to produce aliphatic alcohols. After hydroformylation of the aliphatic alcohols, unreacted components from the hydroformylation process may be separated from the aliphatic alcohols products. The unreacted components from the hydroformylation process may be recycled back into the main process stream or sent to other processing units. Addition of multiple streams to the units may be performed to control reaction conditions in the units.

Methods of preparing branched aliphatic alcohols

A process for converting levulinic acid into pentanoic acid, the process comprising the following steps: (a) contacting a feedstock comprising levulinic acid under hydrogenating conditions, in the presence of hydrogen, with a non-acidic heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst comprising a hydrogenation metal supported on a solid catalyst carrier to obtain a first effluent comprising gamma valerolactone; (b) contacting at least part of the first effluent under hydrogenating conditions, in the presence of hydrogen, with a strongly acidic catalyst and a hydrogenation metal to obtain a second effluent comprising pentanoic acid, wherein step (b) is operated at a conversion per pass of at most 70 wt% to obtain the second effluent comprising pentanoic acid and unconverted gamma valerolactone, and wherein part of the unconverted gamma valerolactone is recycled to step (a) and/or step (b)

Paul Marie Ayoub

Papers

Valeric Biofuels: A Platform of Cellulosic Transportation Fuels

A process for preparing a branched olefin, a method of using the branched olefin for making a surfactant and a surfactant

Methods of preparing branched aliphatic alcohols

Process for converting levulinic acid into pentanoic acid

Cellulosic Biofuels: A Sustainable Option for Transportation