Alternative Value Chains for Biomass Conversion to Chemicals

Whereas biomass conversion is widely envisioned to proceed via platform molecules that are employed as building blocks to produce chemicals, an alternative value chain is proposed that proceeds via more direct and cost effective routes and do not duplicate chemicals currently produced from fossil resources. Biopolymers such as starch, cellulose and hemicellulose could be converted via one-pot catalytic process yielding either smaller molecules with similar functionalities such as polyols, or modified polymers with functional properties. These blend of molecules or modified biopolymers can be used without further separation for the manufacture of high tonnage end-products such as paper, paints, resins, foams, lubricants, plasticizers, etc., that do not require the use of isolated, pure molecules. The present paper aims at giving selected examples taken from recent work in our laboratory and from literature data to demonstrate the potential of this alternative value chain.