718
2-Furaldehyde or furfural is widely used as a solvent in the petrochemical industry. Initial refining industrial plant established in 1933 by Texaco, the Indian
Refining Company, led to production of several high-valued lubricating oils along
with producing benzene, toluene, xylene and other polar compounds, mercaptans
and compounds derived from crude oil with the help of furfural for extraction.
Furfural found wide usage as decolorising compound in refining wood rosin [21].
After the development of butadiene purification technology which was used to manufacture synthetic rubber by the USA during World War II, the demand of furfural
increased. Since furfural undergoes extractive distillation with buta-1,3-diene and
2-methylbuta-1,3-diene and can be alienated from saturated C 4 and C 5 hydrocarbons. In addition to the synthesis of furfuryl alcohol, furfural is also widely used as
a chemical feedstock for a lot of other five-member furanic compounds such as
furan, 2-methylfuran, acetyl-furan, 1-(2-furyl)methylamine and furoic acid. Furfural
has also been introduced in South Africa as an insecticide to protect the plants.
Toxicity of the present insecticide and pesticides (e.g. methyl bromide) although
effective in removing pests has adverse health effects upon humans that occurs due
to prolong exposure. Furfural is much less toxic and effective as a pesticide in controlling worms in the soil.
Economic aspects: World production of furfural in 2003 was 200,000 tonnes,
and the market is projected to reach 423,372 tonnes by 2024. It has been estimated
that the furfural market size is projected to grow from USD 551 million in 2019 to
USD 700 million by 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The
last two decades have seen the monopoly of China in the furfural-producing industry. Presently, furfural activities are established basically in the developing countries
where cheap labour and low operational costs along with favourable climatic conditions and fertile land are available. Furfural production is evolving in nations like
the Dominican Republic, China, Thailand, India, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the
USA, Tunisia and South Africa. At present China being the largest producer of furfural across the globe contributes to around 70% of the total production. The rest of
the countries contribute for approximately 280 kTon of the global production capacity of furfural.
Conclusion: Viability of furfural-based bio-refinery, which will initially require
large investments, might initially face potential technological hindrance but will be
very much dependent on present and future returns and incentives. Well-designed
policies and regulatory mandates regarding biomass-derived platform chemicals
and value-added chemicals are required for ensuring economic viability and success
of furfural-based bio-refineries. Furfural-based bio-refineries would be competitive
with the crude oil-derived products and chemicals. In spite of the unsteady and volatile oil market, the use of low-risk and well-designed technologies is very much
needed for meeting the societal demands. Bio-refineries will clearly be a feasible
solution in the future and a competitive option because of the depleting crude oil
reserves and increasing price of manufacturing. However, increasing focus on environmental norms and energy security and management rather than commercial and
economic viability should really carry forwards the research and development of
furfural-based bio-refineries.
N. J. Mazumdar et al.
2-Furaldehyde or furfural is widely used as a solvent in the petrochemical industry. Initial refining industrial plant established in 1933 by Texaco, the Indian
Refining Company, led to production of several high-valued lubricating oils along
with producing benzene, toluene, xylene and other polar compounds, mercaptans
and compounds derived from crude oil with the help of furfural for extraction.
Furfural found wide usage as decolorising compound in refining wood rosin [21].
After the development of butadiene purification technology which was used to manufacture synthetic rubber by the USA during World War II, the demand of furfural
increased. Since furfural undergoes extractive distillation with buta-1,3-diene and
2-methylbuta-1,3-diene and can be alienated from saturated C 4 and C 5 hydrocarbons. In addition to the synthesis of furfuryl alcohol, furfural is also widely used as
a chemical feedstock for a lot of other five-member furanic compounds such as
furan, 2-methylfuran, acetyl-furan, 1-(2-furyl)methylamine and furoic acid. Furfural
has also been introduced in South Africa as an insecticide to protect the plants.
Toxicity of the present insecticide and pesticides (e.g. methyl bromide) although
effective in removing pests has adverse health effects upon humans that occurs due
to prolong exposure. Furfural is much less toxic and effective as a pesticide in controlling worms in the soil.
Economic aspects: World production of furfural in 2003 was 200,000 tonnes,
and the market is projected to reach 423,372 tonnes by 2024. It has been estimated
that the furfural market size is projected to grow from USD 551 million in 2019 to
USD 700 million by 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The
last two decades have seen the monopoly of China in the furfural-producing industry. Presently, furfural activities are established basically in the developing countries
where cheap labour and low operational costs along with favourable climatic conditions and fertile land are available. Furfural production is evolving in nations like
the Dominican Republic, China, Thailand, India, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the
USA, Tunisia and South Africa. At present China being the largest producer of furfural across the globe contributes to around 70% of the total production. The rest of
the countries contribute for approximately 280 kTon of the global production capacity of furfural.
Conclusion: Viability of furfural-based bio-refinery, which will initially require
large investments, might initially face potential technological hindrance but will be
very much dependent on present and future returns and incentives. Well-designed
policies and regulatory mandates regarding biomass-derived platform chemicals
and value-added chemicals are required for ensuring economic viability and success
of furfural-based bio-refineries. Furfural-based bio-refineries would be competitive
with the crude oil-derived products and chemicals. In spite of the unsteady and volatile oil market, the use of low-risk and well-designed technologies is very much
needed for meeting the societal demands. Bio-refineries will clearly be a feasible
solution in the future and a competitive option because of the depleting crude oil
reserves and increasing price of manufacturing. However, increasing focus on environmental norms and energy security and management rather than commercial and
economic viability should really carry forwards the research and development of
furfural-based bio-refineries.
N. J. Mazumdar et al.