Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

OKIsItJustMe

(19,933 posts)
Wed Dec 17, 2014, 04:49 PM Dec 2014

New conversion process turns biomass 'waste' into lucrative chemical products

http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q4/new-conversion-process-turns-biomass-waste-into-lucrative-chemical-products.html
[font face=Serif][font size=5]New conversion process turns biomass 'waste' into lucrative chemical products[/font]



December 17, 2014

[font size=3]WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new catalytic process is able to convert what was once considered biomass waste into lucrative chemical products that can be used in fragrances, flavorings or to create high-octane fuel for racecars and jets.

A team of researchers from Purdue University's Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels, or C3Bio, has developed a process that uses a chemical catalyst and heat to spur reactions that convert lignin into valuable chemical commodities. Lignin is a tough and highly complex molecule that gives the plant cell wall its rigid structure.
[link:http://www.chem.purdue.edu/abu-omar|
Mahdi Abu-Omar], the R.B. Wetherill Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Chemical Engineering and associate director of C3Bio, led the team.

"We are able to take lignin - which most biorefineries consider waste to be burned for its heat - and turn it into high-value molecules that have applications in fragrance, flavoring and high-octane jet fuels," Abu-Omar said. "We can do this while simultaneously producing from the biomass lignin-free cellulose, which is the basis of ethanol and other liquid fuels. We do all of this in a one-step process."

…[/font][/font]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C4GC01911C
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New conversion process turns biomass 'waste' into lucrative chemical products (Original Post) OKIsItJustMe Dec 2014 OP
Nothing is really waste. Years ago, in 1985, I predicted that we'd be mining landfills for metals. NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #1
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. Nothing is really waste. Years ago, in 1985, I predicted that we'd be mining landfills for metals.
Wed Dec 17, 2014, 04:54 PM
Dec 2014

And, I was right, or wrong since it was already happening years before that!

The concept of landfill mining was introduced as early as 1953 at the Hiriya landfill operated by the Dan Region Authority next to the city of Tel Aviv, Israel.[2] Waste contains many resources with high value, the most notable of which are non-ferrous metals such as aluminium cans and scrap metal. The concentration of aluminium in many landfills is higher than the concentration of aluminum in bauxite from which the metal is derived.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill_mining


But 1985 didn't have Wikipedia, so I was unaware!



Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»New conversion process tu...