Identification of potential technologies for 1,4-Butanediol production using prospecting methodology

1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BDO) is a four-carbon diol used for industrial applications such as organic solvents, and the production of adhesives, fibers and polyurethanes. 1,4-BDO currently is produced through several petrochemical routes: hydrogenation of maleic anhydride, isomerization of propylene oxide, acetoxylation of butadiene, and the reaction between formaldehyde and acetylene. The current trends in 1,4-BDO production involve the utilization of renewable sources such as biomass. In this context, the present study aimed to identify promising technologies of 1,4-BDO production through prospecting methodology based on the analyses of patents and scientific article, describing the most relevant aspects of those emerging technologies. An increasing amount of 1,4-BDO production focused on biotechnological routes has been reported, with the US heavily involved in the development of new technologies. This study tracked three promising technologies which have potential for application in a biorefinery context because those processes involve (i) production of 1,4-BDO from sugars, classified herein as the biotechnological route; (ii) production of intermediates from sugar fermentation followed by catalytic conversion into 1,4-BDO, classified herein as the hybrid route, and (iii) furan/furfural conversion into 1,4-BDO. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and evaluation of the thermal properties of biosourced poly(ether)ureas and copoly(ether)ureas from 1,4:3,6‐dianhydrohexitols

A new series of poly(ether)ureas were prepared by solution polyaddition of three diamines based on 1,4:3,6‐dianhydrohexitols with three types of diisocyanate. The corresponding poly(ether)ureas were obtained with high yields. They were characterized by various analytical techniques (NMR, TGA and differential thermal analysis, DSC). NMR spectroscopy allowed us to confirm structure type and to optimize reaction conditions and DSC proved the high thermal properties of the products obtained (T_g and T_m in the range 126 ? 158 °C and 235 ? 330 °C respectively). Then, copoly(ether)ureas partially based on commercial diamines were synthesized in order to reduce polymer cost and tune their thermal behaviour. The reactivity of both diamines was evaluated by their incorporation in the polymer by means of NMR spectra. Then their thermal properties were compared with fully commercial diamine based polyureas by DSC studies. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Selective Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Succinic Acid: Reaction Network and Kinetics

The conversion of bio-based succinic acid (SA) to the value-added chemicals 1,4-butanediol (BDO), γ-butyrolactone (GBL), and tetrahydrofuran (THF) can replace the corresponding petrochemical production routes to achieve a sustainable process. The reaction network for aqueous-phase catalytic hydrogenation of succinic acid over a supported Re-Pd catalyst was identified and the reaction kinetics was determined. With the developed kinetic model, the composition of the product mixture regarding the desired products (BDO, GBL, THF) can be described as a function of educt concentration, temperature, and pressure. The maximum BDO yield was achieved at high pressure and low temperature, while low pressure and high temperature favored GBL and THF production.     

Highly efficient synthesis of(R)-1,3-butanediol via anti-Prelog reduction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone with absolute stereoselectivity by a newly isolated Pichia kudriavzevii

(R)-1,3-butanediol is an important pharmaceutical intermediate, and the synthesis of(R)-1,3-butanediol using green biological methods has recently been of interest for industrial application. Here, a novel strain QC-1 that efficiently transforms 4-hydroxy-2-butanone to(R)-1,3-butanediol was isolated from soil samples. Based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests and 5.8 S-internal transcribed spacer sequencing, the strain was identified as Pichia kudriavzevii QC-1. The reaction conditions were optimized to 35 ℃, pH 8.0, rotation speed 200 rpm, and 6:5 mass ratio of glucose to 4-hydroxy-2-butanone. Evaluation of the effects of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone concentrations on yield and cell survival rate showed that 85.60 g·L~(-1) product accumulated, with an enantiomeric excess of more than 99%, when 30 g·L~(-1)4-hydroxy-2-butanone was added at 0, 10, and 30 h in a 3-L bioreactor. Thus, strain QC-1 showed excellent catalytic activity and stereoselectivity for the synthesis of(R)-1,3-butanediol from 4-hydroxy-2-butanone.     

Production of 2,3-butanediol from diverse saccharides via fermentation

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential use of whey to produce 2,3-BD via the fermentation of lactose and its monosaccharides, glucose and galactose, in a synthetic culture medium (medium 9, M9) using a modified strain of Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 (E. coli JFR12) at a 0.1 L/L (10 vol%) inoculum ratio, 37 °C, atmospheric pressure, an initial pH 7.4, and 100 rpm for 72 h varying the saccharide concentration from 12.5, 25, and 50 g/L. The 2,3-BD yield was ∼80 % of the theoretical yield using 25 g/L of glucose and lactose, corresponding to 0.38 g/g saccharides at a fermentation time of 48 h (glucose) and 72 h (lactose). However, the 2,3-BD yield was halved (0.19 g/g galactose), fermenting 25 g/L of galactose at 48 h. Taking into account these results, two important conclusions were determined: i) E. coli JFR12 could transform galactose into 2,3-BD although its yield was half of the yield observed with glucose at 48 h; and ii) E. coli JFR12 was as efficient as other natural 2,3-BD producers such as Klebsiella species fermenting lactose. However, the E. coli strain has the advantage of being an innocuous strain. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other study presenting the production of 2,3-BD from galactose and lactose with a genetically modified E. coli strain.     

Three-dimensional layered porous graphene aerogel hydrogen getters

Organic getters are often introduced into sealed systems to remove the excessive reactive hydrogen gas. In this work, the formable graphene aerogel hydrogen getters are prepared by integrating the alkyne-containing molecules (e.g., DEB) into the palladium-loaded three-dimensional layered porous graphene aerogel (Pd-GA). The performance of Pd-GA/DEB composite materials in reducing reactive hydrogen gas is examined at pressures of 0.1–1 bar at a temperature of 25 °C, and the hydrogen consumption is measured as a function of time. Results suggest that the hydrogen uptake capability of Pd-GA/DEB getters increases with the loading of Pd particles on the GA and the content of Pd⁰. The highest hydrogen absorption capacity is up to 215.5 cm³/g, and the hydrogenation rate of DEB molecules is 89.3%. This study promotes the fundamental understanding of solid-phase catalytic hydrogenation and the applications of 3D layered porous graphene aerogel in hydrogen absorption.     

Investigation on sulphonated zinc oxide nanorod incorporated sulphonated poly (1,4-phenylene ether ether sulfone) nanocomposite membranes for improved performance of microbial fuel cell

Hydrothermally prepared zinc oxide nanorods are sulphonated (S–ZnO NR) and incorporated into 15% Sulphonated Poly (1,4-Phenylene Ether Ether Sulfone) (SPEES) to improve the hydrophilicity, water uptake and ion transfer capacity. Water uptake and ion transfer capacity increased to 34.6 ± 0.6% and 2.0 ± 0.05 meq g^?1 from 29.8 ± 0.3% and 1.4 ± 0.04 meq g^?1 by adding 7.5 wt% S–ZnO NR to SPEES. Morphological studies show the prepared S–ZnO NR is well dispersed in the polymer matrix. SPEES +7.5 wt% S–ZnO NR membrane exhibits optimum performance after three-weeks of continual operation in a fabricated microbial fuel cell (MFC) to produce a maximum power density of 142 ± 1.2 mW m^?2 with a reduced biofilm compared to plain SPEES (59 ± 0.8 mW m^?2), unsulphonated filler incorporated SPEES (SPEES + 7.5 wt% ZnO, 68 ± 1.1 mW m^?2) and Nafion (130 ± 1.5 mW m^?2) thereby suggesting its suitability as a sustainable and improved cation exchange membrane (CEM) for MFCs.