Perspective
Chemical bio-manufacture from diverse C-rich waste polymeric feedstocks using engineered microorganisms
Engineering microbial metabolism is tapped potential to convert industrial waste and by-products into high-value chemical products, providing a more sustainable alternative to traditionally oil-derived chemicals.
Critical Review
Technological and policy options for the defossilisation of chemical manufacturing
The chemical industry plays a pivotal role in modern society, providing essential products like plastics, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, speciality and agricultural chemicals.
Paper
The impact of co-feeding carbon dioxide in Fischer–Tropsch-to-olefin catalysis: an inelastic neutron scattering study
An investigation into the addition of CO2 to the feedstock for a Fischer–Tropsch-to-olefins catalyst indicates a role for CO2 perturbing the equilibrium between iron carbides and oxides.
Paper
A biomass-derived nickel-based nanomaterial as a sustainable and reusable catalyst for hydrogenation of arenes and heteroarenes
A waste-biomass derived Ni-nanocatalyst was prepared and applied for the hydrogenation of (hetero)arenes to produce cyclo-aliphatic compounds including tetrahydroquinolines, tetrahydroquinoxalines and dihydrobenzofurans.
Paper
Eco-designed ZSM-5 zeolites: biomass-assisted modifications and catalytic evaluation through model reactions
This study evaluates the impact of biomass addition on the physicochemical properties of ZSM-5 zeolites.
Paper
Deconstructing poplar lignin from ionic liquid pretreatment for biological conversion through sulfonation and Fenton chemistry
We present a method for depolymerization of poplar lignin for microbial conversion via sulfonation and Fenton chemistry.
Paper
Examining the effect of manganese distribution on alcohol production in CoMn/TiO2 FTS catalysts
A comparison of the effect of the preparation methods for CoMn/TiO2 Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysts reveals the prevalence of Mn surface doping leading to enhanced product selectivity towards olefins and alcohols.
Paper
Towards flexible large-scale, environmentally sustainable methanol and ammonia co-production using industrial symbiosis
Uncovering pathways to sustainable co-production schemes using industrial symbiosis.
Paper
Techno-economic assessment of biodiesel-derived crude glycerol purification processes
This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of three glycerol purification processes: Membrane Separation (MBP), Vacuum Distillation (VDP), and Ion Exchange Purification (IEP).
Paper
Synthesis of novel diesters as potential fuel oxygenates and surfactants of renewable origin from carbohydrate-derived 5-(chloromethyl)furfural
5-(Chloromethyl)furfural (CMF) has received enormous interest over the past two decades as a carbohydrate-derived platform chemical for synthesizing organic chemicals of commercial significance.
Paper
On the synthesis of biorefineries for high-yield isobutanol production: from biomass-to-alcohol experiments to system level analysis
High yield isobutanol production is experimentally demonstrated. The solvent-to-biomass ratio during pretreatment and enzyme production during hydrolysis are identified as the major economic drivers of the biorefinery.
About this collection
Chemical industries touch almost every aspect of society. They produce everything from fuels and polymers to everyday consumer products such as cosmetics and household cleaning products. Currently, many of these vital products are made using feedstocks derived from fossil sources which, in addition to being finite, also release large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.
For chemical industries to be sustainable in the long term in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goals 12 and 13, Responsible Consumption and Production and Climate Action, respectively), they must avoid using raw materials from fossil sources and find alternative feedstocks.