Page 177 - CW E-Magazine (22-4-2025)

Special Report

A rapid wrap-up of what’s new in Operations,

Processes and Products

Renewable Raw Materials

with candida antarctica lipase PB; di-
butyl xylose outperformed a hazardous
solvent like diphenyl ether. Computa-
tional modelling was done. 98 wt% of
the solvents were successfully recovered
and recycled. (ChemSusChem, 2024;
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202401877).

1,3 Propanediol (PD), an
exemplary bio-renewable
organic platform chemical

A. Marr has covered this subject where
whole cell biocatalytic fermentation
of biomass is carried out. (DuPont had
worked and commercialized PO for
novel polyester based products in place
of MEG). There is a petrochemical
Insights into the role of Deep extraction rate of 83% was observed
Eutectic Solvents (DESs) in under synergistic effect of ethyl acetate
sorbitol (S) dehydration and acetone (4:1). Molecular Dynamics
(MD) simulations were done. (ACS
The dehydration of S to isosorbide (IS) Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2024; DOI:
is currently catalysed by inorganic acids 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4C07461).
and IS goes for various high-value-added route based on propylene to acrolein,
compounds. The above acids can cause Xylose acetals (XAs) – A new hydration and hydrogenation. Current
corrosion in common equipment and class of sustainable solvents uses of PD are listed and expanding
are not recyclable. A DES composed and their application in the chemical uses are discussed. (Adv.
of p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) and enzymatic polycondensation Synthesis and Catalysis, 2024; DOI:
choline chloride (ChCl) has emerged as 10.1002/adsc.202401066).
‘green’ catalyst system. Conditions for A.O. Komarova et al have come out with
the title dehydration were systematically XAs – solvents from xylose – in 83 mol% Development of a novel
investigated. IS selectivity was 88% yield. These new solvents have a largely process towards an L-malate
with PTSA:ChCl of 1.2. Further, high unmodified xylose core and acetal biorefi nery using methanol
functionality. A key (M) as feedstock
advantage is that no
peroxide is formed G. M. Bastem et al have come out with
and they also pro- the novel title process using the methylo-
vide reduced fl am- trophic bacterium Bacillus Methanolicus.
mability risk. These The relationship between R&D and
solvents have been techno-economic feasibility is assessed.
successfully used in For this Super Pro Designer was used.
enzymatic polycon- Firstly, R&D gave 65-gm/liter titer
densation reactions and further strain improvement led to

Chemical Weekly April 22, 2025 177

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