Majority of industry focus on biofuels especially bioethanol from biomass.
However, a high value compound ethylene is produced by dehydration of ethanol.
Then ethylene could serve as platform chemical for production of multiple high
value chemicals. Oxidized form of ethylene is ethylene oxide or ethylene glycol. The
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a list of bio-based
chemicals with near-term market potential (Fig. 5.5) (Biddy et al. 2016). The
chemicals mentioned in Fig. 5.5 can serve as building blocks for production of
several other chemicals. Polybutadiene and styrene butadiene rubbers can be produced from 1,3-butadiene (BD). 1,4-butanediol (BDO) is a platform chemical from
which polymers and solvents are synthesised. Surfactants are the products produced
from fatty alcohols and are used as floor cleaners (Gallezot 2012; Rosales-Calderon
and Arantes 2019). Furfural alcohol (FA) and product of furfural obtained via
chemical condensation of hemicellulose are widely used in resin preparation. Glycerine, a well-known hygroscopic substance is used in variety of industries. Lactic
acid, a fermented product of sugars by microorganisms can be used in many fine
chemical transformations. 1,3-propanediol (PDO) has gained popularity in polymer
industries and cosmetics industry. Similar to lactic acid, succinic acid has multiple
product transformations with high market potential. Xylene, an important platform
chemical serves as an integral part of polyethylene bottle manufacturing
Biomass
1,3-Butadiene
Succinic acid
FaƩy alcohols
Ethyl lactate
Chemicals from Biomass
Fig. 5.5 Fine and platform chemicals production from biomass
92
M. I. Kumar et al.
However, a high value compound ethylene is produced by dehydration of ethanol.
Then ethylene could serve as platform chemical for production of multiple high
value chemicals. Oxidized form of ethylene is ethylene oxide or ethylene glycol. The
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a list of bio-based
chemicals with near-term market potential (Fig. 5.5) (Biddy et al. 2016). The
chemicals mentioned in Fig. 5.5 can serve as building blocks for production of
several other chemicals. Polybutadiene and styrene butadiene rubbers can be produced from 1,3-butadiene (BD). 1,4-butanediol (BDO) is a platform chemical from
which polymers and solvents are synthesised. Surfactants are the products produced
from fatty alcohols and are used as floor cleaners (Gallezot 2012; Rosales-Calderon
and Arantes 2019). Furfural alcohol (FA) and product of furfural obtained via
chemical condensation of hemicellulose are widely used in resin preparation. Glycerine, a well-known hygroscopic substance is used in variety of industries. Lactic
acid, a fermented product of sugars by microorganisms can be used in many fine
chemical transformations. 1,3-propanediol (PDO) has gained popularity in polymer
industries and cosmetics industry. Similar to lactic acid, succinic acid has multiple
product transformations with high market potential. Xylene, an important platform
chemical serves as an integral part of polyethylene bottle manufacturing
Biomass
1,3-Butadiene
Succinic acid
FaƩy alcohols
Ethyl lactate
Chemicals from Biomass
Fig. 5.5 Fine and platform chemicals production from biomass
92
M. I. Kumar et al.