Process for Converting Waste Biomass

Abstract

A researcher at the University of California, Davis has developed a chemical approach for the total conversion of plant carbohydrates to biofuels and value-added products.

Full Description

A researcher at the University of California, Davis has developed a process for converting waste biomass (agricultural, municipal forestry) into 5-chlorofurfural (CMF) in yields approaching 90% of the theoretical. Thus far no other method of biomass deconstruction gives such a high conversion to a simple organic product. The process is completely chemical in nature and inexpensive. Conditions are mild (T< 100 °C) and reaction times are short (< 4 h). By reaction with ethanol or hydrogen, the CMF product is converted into 5-ethoxymethyl furfural and 5-methylfurfural, respectively, both of which are promising biofuel candidates, and the former of which is currently being commercialized in Europe as a diesel additive. By reaction with water, the CMF product is converted into levulinic acid, an industrially important value-added chemical. A secondary product of this process is furfural itself, which derives from the hemicellulose content of plant biomass. Furfural is currently traded as a commercial commodity.

Applications

• High yield process for the development and manufacture of renewable alternative fuels

Features/Benefits

• More efficient than conventional ethanol production
• Direct utilization of cellulose, a prevalent and available source of carbon
• Derived biofuels are hydrophobic, non-toxic, non-volatile, non-corrosive, clean-burning, and biodegradable
• Method can be used to derive either biofuels or value added materials from biomass

Related Materials

• Mascal M and Nikitin EB. 2008. Direct, high-yield conversion of cellulose into biofuel. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 47(41):7924-6.
• Mascal M and Nikitin EB. 2009. Towards the Efficient, Total Glycan Utilization of Biomass. ChemSusChem. 2(5):423-426. [Epub ahead of print]

Patent Status