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

化学品继续在提高我们的生活质量方面发挥关键作用，化学工业是国家和全球经济的关键驱动力。然而，据估计，该行业每年有16.3亿吨化石燃料原料和42.5EJ的最终能源消耗，是全球第三大二氧化碳排放国。与此同时，根据联合国去年发布的全球化学展望II，到2030年，化学工业的规模预计将翻一番。因此，越来越多的人呼吁开发绿色生产工艺，以确保这一重要行业的可持续性，同时确保我们的环境健康。为此，应用太阳能光催化将生物质转化为增值化合物的势头越来越大，成为可持续化学工业的一条绿色途径。这项技术依赖于大量可用和可再生的碳来源，即生物质，通过生产有价值的化学品来直接以化学键的形式储存太阳能，同时减少二氧化碳排放。因此，该计划的长期目标是提高我们的基础知识，开发利用太阳能将废弃生物质光催化转化为有价值的化学品的新技术。短期内，我们建议开发具有成本效益的生物炭基太阳能光催化剂，将纤维素生物质转化为平台化学物质，如乙酰丙酸和羟甲基呋喃(HMF)。然后，这些化学品可以取代化石燃料，生产有价值的产品，如燃料、溶剂、聚合物、树脂、增塑剂、药品、食品和保健食品。拟议的计划支持加拿大履行其在联合国2030年可持续发展议程下的义务的愿景。这项研究的结果预计将通过减少化石燃料的使用和减少温室气体排放来提高加拿大人的生活质量和改善我们的环境健康。拟议的研究计划有助于加拿大确保其在快速增长的可持续化学工业领域的全球领导地位。它将带来变革性的创新，这些创新可以很容易地融入现有的制造过程，从而改变加拿大的森林产品和化学工业，同时创造新的“绿色”就业机会。最后，它将培养下一代高素质的人才，他们为引领该行业向低碳经济转型做好了充分准备。

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.