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Glucaric acid biorefineries

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Publication date: 14/12/2015 Last update: 24/05/2017 Description 1,2,3,4 D-Glucaric acid, also called saccharic acid, is a chemical compound with formula C 6 H 10 O 8 and member of a large family of molecules known as oxidized sugars. It is a naturally occurring aldaric acid, typically found in small amounts in a variety of fruits and vegetables. It is a highly functionalized compound with four chiral carbons and a plethora of reaction pathways. Its commercial potential was unveiled in the report “Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass” from the Department of Energy of USA which described its use as a building block for a number of polymers, including new nylons and hyperbranched polyesters. Process technologies 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 The synthetic preparation of D-glucaric acid dates back to a report of Sohst and Tollens (1888) who carried out the nitric acid oxidation of D-glucose to D-glucaric acid. Current methods for its production are based on this process and in...
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Green Biologics shuts down its Minnesota biorefinery

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Type of post: NEWS. Bad news from the biobased chemical sector. Green Biologics Ltd  (GBL) has announced through a succinct press release on its website that it is shutting down its Little Falls (Minnesota) biorefinery: “After a detailed review, the Board of Green Biologics Limited (GBL) has concluded that it is not possible to secure funding to enable it to continue with its plan to build up sales and production levels of renewable butanol and acetone at the Group’s Little Falls, Minnesota plant to the point of cash break-even. Accordingly, given this withdrawal of financial support, the Board and Managements of its subsidiary companies, Green Biologics, Inc., and Central Minnesota Renewables LLC have commenced an orderly closure of operations and wind-down of those corporations for and subject to any actions by their creditors. In the short term the Board of GBL will be considering strategic options for the future of GBL.”. Figure 1. GBL plant in Little Falls Bac...
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Licella receives grant from the Queensland Waste to Biofutures Fund for sugarcane waste valorization project

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Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Licella Holdings has been awarded 500,000 Australian dollars of the Queensland Waste to Biofutures (W2B) Fund for a research and feasibility strudy related to a future biorefinery which turns sugarcane waste into sustainable fuel. The W2B Fund provides 5 million Australian dollars to boost the development of waste to biofutures projects in Queensland. Queensland Government media statement: “ Grant supports sugarcane waste research for Burdekin biorefinery ”, 27/2/2020. Figure 1. Licella receives grant from the Queensland Waste to Biofutures Fund for sugarcane waste valorization project Licella will work with the University of Queensland , Burdekin Renewable Fuels and other project partners to test the conversion of sugar cane wastes and residues, utilising its Cat-HTR technology , into biofuels with the potential for marine and aviation uses. If the outcome of the feasibility project is positive, a full-scale biorefi...
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Biofuels from algae

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In my opinion, the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals from algae is one of the most fascinating topics in the sector of the biorefineries and it will be one of the niches of opportunity with highest potential in the medium and the long terms. This post pretend to be a very basic approach to the topic Algae-to-Biofuels through three general key points. Algae 1,2,3,4,5 Algae include a wide variety of photosynthetic organisms capable of transforming light, water and specific nutrients into products that can be used with commercial and industrial purposes. We can say that algae are sunlight-driven factories with potential to convert CO 2 into biofuels, high-value biochemical, food and feed. There are four algae cultivation technologies currently in use for commercial algae cultivation and proposed for algal biofuel production: extensive or open ponds, intensive or raceway ponds, closed photobioreactors in many designs and closed fermenter systems. Algal biof...
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Nanocellulose biorefineries – A biomaterial with unparalleled perspectives – 2nd part: Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNC)

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Publication date: 22/04/2019. Last update: 22/04/2019. Introduction See “ Nanocellulose biorefineries – A biomaterial with unparalleled perspectives – 1st part: Introduction ”. Shape and dimensions             Shape: Elongated. In the literature, they are compared with rice grains, rods, spindles and whiskers. Dimensions: Typically, 4-15 nm in width and 50-500 nm in length. Figure 1. CNC produced by Blue Goose Biorefineries (taken from Blue Goose Biorefineries website). Width: 9–14 nm. Length: 100–150 nm. Properties - Abundant, renewable and sustainable. - Biocompatible. - Electro-magnetic (charge surface). - High aspect ratio (length to width). - High temperature stability. - High strength (in line with high-performance synthetic material as Kevlar®). - High surface area. - Light weight. - Self-assembly. - Shear thinning / Unique rheological properties. - Versatile surface che...
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