Carbon-Based Catalysis for Biomass Conversion to Levulinic Acid

I am excited to announce the publication of our review paper titled "Strategic Design Principles for Greener Biorefinery: A Substrate-Process Matrix Emphasizing Complete Lignocellulose Utilization over Variant Biomass" in Green Chemistry. In this study, we explored innovative biorefinery processes aimed at maximizing the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for sustainable biofuels production. Our findings highlight the potential of advanced techniques such as Pretreatment followed by Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenolysis (PT-CTH) and Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) in enhancing lignin monomer yields from diverse biomass feedstocks. https://lnkd.in/g3k_99Ff

Data backed ways to boost 2 5-Furandicarboxylic acid sustainability: You see rapid growth in demand for 2 5-Furandicarboxylic acid, driven by advancements in biobased synthesis and catalytic innovations. Technologies like one-pot conversion of fructose yield up to 95%, minimizing hazardous by-products. Key Takeaways 1.Use renewable biomass and biobased synthesis … Continue reading → #ManufacturingIndustry #MarketingSales #US #WebsiteBlog #World

HighChem and Hokkaido University Establish Joint Lab for Mass Production of Plant-Based PET Bottles HighChem and Hokkaido University have established the "HighChem Hokkaido University R&D Lab" under their Industry Creation Program. On June 13, a joint press conference was held at the Hokkaido University Centennial Memorial Hall. During the press conference, presentations were made on the groundbreaking research aimed at the commercialization of plant-derived future PET bottles and fibers. The two companies discussed how their collaboration would generate synergistic effects and advance these technologies. Today, we’ll introduce the highlights of the press conference and an overview of the presentation! Groundbreaking Joint Research with Hokkaido University, a Leader in Catalysis Research, and a Trading Company with Multiple Commercialization Achievements At the press conference, Keiichi Aoshima, Director of HighChem Tokyo Research Lab, explained the background of the establishment of the "HighChem Hokkaido University R&D Lab." Regarding the groundbreaking nature of the joint development, Director Aoshima emphasized, groundbreaking aspects of this joint development: "Research on creating polymers from biomass is being pursued both domestically and internationally, but the challenge has been that the entire process from raw material procurement to application development has not been connected in a coherent line. This collaboration between a trading company and a university aims to expedite the societal implementation of the products."  In advancing research towards societal implementation, HighChem presented examples of its achievements in implementing ethylene glycol, a key material for PET bottles, derived from non-petroleum sources, and its ongoing work since 2021 on PLA (polylactic acid) fiber production. Additionally, they highlighted that Hokkaido University is one of the few organizations in Japan with top-tier catalytic research capabilities. Due to Hokkaido's natural resources, the university is actively advancing research in biomass utilization. Director Aoshima emphasized, "We aim to leverage HighChem’s commercialization achievements and the network we have cultivated to harness the catalytic expertise of Hokkaido University, the synergy of the catalyst research institute, and accelerate the commercialization of biomass-derived PET bottles and fibers."  Please refer to the following link for more details. https://lnkd.in/gfkjZK5W

Hydrogen from biomass. Biohydrogen is the source of energy that uses living microorganisms to make hydrogen via biological processes. A novel option, hydrogen production from lignocellulosic biomass based on renewable resources, is currently in a pilot-scale demonstration stage with few applications entering the commercialisation phase. Lignocellulosic biomass is derived from agri-food residues, energy crops, marine residues, and forest by-products. Currently, several types of technology are underway for the production of H2 utilising (lignocellulosic) biomass, such as thermochemical processes, biological conversions, and electrochemically-assisted production. 🌱 Biohydrogen Production Processes Biohydrogen can be produced through three main pathways, each leveraging different scientific principles and technologies: 🔥 1. Thermochemical Process These methods involve high-temperature chemical reactions to convert biomass into hydrogen. - Gasification: Converts organic materials into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide) using heat and a controlled amount of oxygen or steam. - Pyrolysis: Decomposes biomass at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, producing bio-oil, gases, and char. - Aqueous Phase Reforming: Uses water-soluble biomass-derived compounds (like sugars or alcohols) in a catalytic process to generate hydrogen at moderate temperatures. 🧫 2. Biological Process These techniques use microorganisms to produce hydrogen under specific conditions. - Biological Water Gas Shift: Microbes convert carbon monoxide and water into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. - Dark Fermentation: Anaerobic bacteria break down organic substrates (e.g., glucose) in the absence of light to produce hydrogen. - Photo-fermentation: Light-dependent microbial process where photosynthetic bacteria convert organic acids into hydrogen. ⚡ 3. Electrochemical Process This category involves the use of electrical energy to drive hydrogen production, though the flowchart does not detail subtypes. UNECE Hydrogen Technology brief.

VALORISATION OF BIOMASS    Making the most of organic waste! Learn more in the session Valorisation of biomass, chaired by Dieter Vogt. Three young scientists: Elisabeth Hundt, Phillip Nathrath, Martin Meiller visualize processes to transform biomass into new feedstocks.      #all about valorisation of biomass – content of the session:   👉 Utilise waste and to use sustainable processes in order to meet the increasing demand for platform chemicals such as lactic acid or formic acid, which are required to manufacture a wide range of products.  👉 Transforming wet biomass waste into sustainable methanol      Dive deeper into this topic and book a ticket: https://lnkd.in/eHd2ubrx    Speaker of the Session Chemistry for Hydrogen Logistics 📑program: https://lnkd.in/eadDMdb2    A chemical and engineering analysis of the conversion of biomass to lactic acid using POMs under nitrogen atmosphere   🎤 Elisabeth Hundt, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Universität Hamburg    Transforming wet biomass waste into sustainable methanol: Concept study of a competitive and mild process route  🎤 Phillip Nathrath, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg    NET-Fuels – Integrating negative emission technologies in biofuels production  🎤  Martin Meiller, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany    #syngas #hydrogen #energytransition #chemistry #logisticy #biomass #waste #renewable #methanol    

Excited to share our recent publication in Biofuel Research Journal (BRJ) on using 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 for the 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀! Our study demonstrates how 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 can overcome a long-standing bottleneck in the biomass pretreatment “kingdom”: 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 and 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 that often constrain efficiency and profitability. By enabling 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 and 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, together with our accompanying studies recently published in Green Chemistry on mechanistic exploration (https://lnkd.in/g3VEp_ca), ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering on techno-economic analysis (https://lnkd.in/g92Q6TtR), and RSC Sustainability (https://lnkd.in/gakJz9EE) on process comparison, we highlight a 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗩𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 for biomass deconstruction. This work wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible team: my fellow teammates and core contributors Dr. Anagha Krishnamoorthy and Dr. Joseph Palasz, and the broader LBNL/JBEI/ABPDU community, including Dr. Ramana Pidatala, Ph.D., Tyrell Lewis, Yang Tian, Dr. Carolina Araujo Barcelos, Xinyi zhou, Dr. Xihui Kang Ph.D., Dr. Yinglei Han, Dr. Chang Dou, PhD, Dr. Hemant Choudhary, Dr. Ning Sun, Dr. Eric Sundstrom, and Dr. Aymerick Eudes, whose dedication and collaboration built the foundation for this success. And of course, my supervisor Dr. Blake Simmons, whose passion, guidance, and steady support have been invaluable, driving progress toward both engineering goals and fundamental science. We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the DOD Tri-Service Biotechnology for a Resilient Supply Chain (T-BRSC) program, as well as the institutional support of Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) at Berkeley Lab. Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gvxWR-gc #Bioenergy #Biofuel #Biomass #Deconstruction

Have you heard of BASF’s sustainability offerings? We offer Biobased PolyTHF® 1000 & 2000 and 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) derived from the fermentation of plant-based sugars, containing at least 95% and 98% biobased content (C14 traceable, ASTM-D6866). We also offer Biomass Balance (BMB) PolyTHF® 1000 & 2000 and 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) which enables up to 100% substitution of fossil resources with renewable resources, resulting in lower PCF compared to fossil-based variants. Find out more about BASF’s BMB approach and PCF: https://lnkd.in/g89eu3mP

A study on biomass conversion found that a simple pretreatment can drastically improve the efficiency of producing sustainable bioenergy. The treatment boosted hydrogen yields by 40.4% and slashed carbon dioxide emissions to just 11.5%, while also producing a higher quality biochar and more valuable liquid products. Learn More 👉

🔬 New Publication Alert! 🌱 Excited to share our latest research article, now published in the journal Biofuels: 📖 "Two-stage cultivation of microalga for sustainable biofuel production" 🔗 Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/grnBs8Pz In this study, we present a two-stage cultivation strategy using Scenedesmus sp. GTAF_01 IU to significantly enhance lipid accumulation for biofuel production: ✅ Stage 1: Controlled biomass generation in a closed photobioreactor ✅ Stage 2: Lipid induction under nutrient stress in open ponds This two step approach balances efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, marking a step forward in the development of sustainable algal biofuels. 🧪 Key contributions: Improved lipid yield without genetic modification Cost-optimized process suitable for scale-up A feasible model for biofuel production in developing regions We hope this adds meaningful insight to the ongoing global conversation around green energy and carbon-neutral fuel alternatives. 📚 DOI: 10.1080/17518253.2025.2543909 #Biofuel #Microalgae #SustainableEnergy #ResearchPublication #GreenTechnology #AcademicResearch #AlgalBiotechnology #CleanEnergy #IITBHU #IntegralUniversity

🚀 New Publication Alert! I am delighted to share our recent review article published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Impact Factor 16.3, Scopus Q1 indexed): “Advanced approaches for mitigating impact of pre-treatment generated inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates: A comprehensive review” 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfSjYmvx 🔬 Why this matters: Second-generation (2G) bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, pre-treatment of biomass generates toxic inhibitors (furans, weak acids, phenolics) that hinder microbial growth and reduce ethanol yield. 📌 Our review comprehensively covers: Mechanisms of inhibitor generation and toxicity State-of-the-art detoxification strategies (physical, chemical, biological, and hybrid) Microbial bioprospecting, adaptive evolution, and metabolic engineering for inhibitor-tolerant strains Integration of multi-omics and AI-driven modeling to unravel stress-response pathways and guide precise strain engineering Future directions for building commercially viable, eco-friendly lignocellulosic biorefineries This work was a collaborative effort with Harpreet Kaur (IIT Bombay/Monash University) and Dr. Naseem A. Gaur (ICGEB, New Delhi). I hope this article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers working toward sustainable energy transitions. #Bioethanol #Biorefinery #Sustainability #Lignocellulose #SyntheticBiology #RenewableEnergy #Fermentation