Continuous Flow Upgrading of Selected C2−C6 Platform Chemicals Derived from Biomass
(2020) Chemical Reviews — Vol. 120, p. 7219-7347 (2020)
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- Abstract
- The ever increasing industrial production of commodity and specialty chemicals inexorably depletes the finite primary fossil resources available on Earth. The forecast of population growth over the next 3 decades is a very strong incentive for the identification of alternative primary resources other than petro-based ones. In contrast with fossil resources, renewable biomass is a virtually inexhaustible reservoir of chemical building blocks. Shifting the current industrial paradigm from almost exclusively petro-based resources to alternative bio-based raw materials requires more than vibrant political messages; it requires a profound revision of the concepts and technologies on which industrial chemical processes rely. Only a small fraction of molecules extracted from biomass bears significant chemical and commercial potentials to be considered as ubiquitous chemical platforms upon which a new, bio-based industry can thrive. Owing to its inherent assets in terms of unique process experience, scalability, and reduced environmental footprint, flow chemistry arguably has a major role to play in this context. This review covers a selection of C2 to C6 bio-based chemical platforms with existing commercial markets including polyols (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, 1,4-butanediol, xylitol, and sorbitol), furanoids (furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) and carboxylic acids (lactic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, itaconic acid, and levulinic acid). The aim of this review is to illustrate the various aspects of upgrading bio-based platforms molecules toward commodity or specialty chemicals using new process concepts that fall under the umbrella of continuous flow technology.
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Gérardy, R., Debecker, D., Estager, J., Luis Alconero, P., & Monbaliu, J.-C. (2020). Continuous Flow Upgrading of Selected C2−C6 Platform Chemicals Derived from Biomass. Chemical Reviews, 120, 7219-7347. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/168128 (Original work published 2020)