Conversion of cellulosic biomass to value-added chemicals using solar-driven carbon-based photocatalytic systems

使用太阳能驱动的碳基光催化系统将纤维素生物质转化为增值化学品

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03709
• 负责人: Farnood, Ramin
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742365
• 关键词: Conversion; cellulosic; biomass; value; added

Chemicals continue to play a pivotal role in improving our quality of life and the chemical industry is a key driver of national and global economies. However, with an estimated 1.63 billion tonnes of fossil fuel feedstock and 42.5 EJ final energy consumption per year, this industry is the third largest global emitter of carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, as per the United Nation's Global Chemical Outlook II released last year, the size of chemical industry is projected to double by 2030. Hence, there has been a growing call for the development of green production processes that ensure the sustainability of this important industry while securing the health of our environment. To this end, application of solar photocatalysis for the conversion of biomass to value-added compounds has been gaining increasing momentum as a green pathway to sustainable chemical industry. This technology relies on an abundantly available and renewable source of carbon, i.e. biomass, to directly store solar energy in the form of chemical bonds by producing valuable chemicals while decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Accordingly, the long-term objective of this program is to advance our fundamental knowledge and develop novel technologies for the photocatalytic conversion of waste biomass to valuable chemicals using solar energy. In short term, we propose to develop cost effective biochar-based solar photocatalysts, to convert cellulosic biomass to platform chemicals such levulinic acid and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). These chemicals can then replace fossil fuels in producing valuable products such as fuels, solvents, polymers, resins, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, food and nutraceuticals. The proposed program support Canada's vision in achieving its obligations under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The outcome of this research is expected to enhance the quality of life of Canadians and improve the health of our environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels and reducing GHG emissions. The proposed research program helps Canada to secure its global leadership in the rapidly growing sustainable chemical industry sector. It will result in transformative innovations that could be readily integrated in existing manufacturing processes and hence transform the Canadian forest product and chemical industries while creating new `green' jobs. Finally, it will train the next generation of highly qualified personnel that are well-prepared to lead the industry's transition to a low-carbon economy.

化学物质在改善我们的生活质量方面继续发挥关键作用，化学工业是国家和全球经济体的主要驱动力。但是，估计有16.3亿吨的化石燃料原料和每年42.5 EJ的最终能源消耗，这是全球二氧化碳的第三大发射极。同时，按照去年联合国的全球化学展望II的规定，化学工业的规模预计到2030年将翻一番。因此，越来越多的呼吁开发绿色生产过程，以确保这一重要行业的可持续性，同时确保我们环境的健康状况。 为此，太阳能光催化在生物量转化为增值化合物中的应用一直在增长，作为通往可持续化学工业的绿色途径的势头越来越多。这项技术依赖于碳的丰富可用来源，即生物量，通过生产有价值的化学物质，同时减少二氧化碳排放，以化学键的形式直接以化学键的形式存储太阳能。 因此，该计划的长期目标是提高我们的基本知识，并开发新的技术，用于使用太阳能将废物生物量转化为有价值的化学物质。短期内，我们建议开发基于生物炭的太阳光催化剂，以将纤维素生物量转换为平台化学物质，例如脱氟辛酸和羟基甲基氟化曲面（HMF）。然后，这些化学物质可以替代化石燃料，以生产有价值的产品，例如燃料，溶剂，聚合物，树脂，增塑剂，药品，食品和营养素。 拟议的计划支持加拿大的愿景，以根据2030年的可持续发展议程达到其义务。这项研究的结果有望通过减少化石燃料并减少温室气体排放来提高加拿大人的生活质量，并改善环境的健康。拟议的研究计划有助于加拿大确保其在快速发展的可持续化学工业领域的全球领导。这将导致变革性的创新，这些创新可以很容易地集成到现有的制造过程中，从而改变了加拿大森林产品和化学工业，同时创造了新的“绿色”工作。最后，它将训练下一代高素质的人员，这些人员准备好的，以导致该行业向低碳经济的过渡。