Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




TECH SPACE
NREL refines method to convert lignin to nylon precursor
by Staff Writers
Golden CO (SPX) Mar 04, 2015


Lignin is one of the most abundant organic materials on Earth (second only to cellulose), and it potentially offers a vast, renewable source for the sustainable production of fuels, chemicals, and materials.

A new study from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) demonstrates the conversion of lignin-derived compounds to adipic acid, an important industrial dicarboxylic acid produced for its use as a precursor to nylon, plasticizers, lubricants, polyesters, and other popular products and chemicals.

The demonstration is an important step toward the goal of garnering more uses from lignin, which could be crucial for the economic success of the biofuels industry. It also shows that adipic acid can be produced from a renewable resource, which might have important ramifications for mitigating greenhouse gases.

Published in Energy and Environmental Science, the research in "Adipic acid production from lignin" demonstrates how lignin-derived compounds can first be converted to muconic acid via a biological process.

Muconic acid can then be separated from the biological culture and catalytically converted into adipic acid. A patent application has been filed on this research, and the NREL Technology Transfer Office will be working with researchers to identify potential licensees of the technology.

The potential impact of this study is revealed by a quick review of the production numbers of adipic acid. Approximately 2.5 million tons of adipic acid are produced each year, mainly as a precursor for the production of nylon, and this global demand is expected to increase by up to 3.5% annually. Nylon is one of the most abundant materials in the world, used in everything from carpet and ropes to clothing and toothbrushes.

With more than 4 million metric tons of nylon manufactured annually around the world, capitalizing on the production of adipic acid from lignin-derived aromatic molecules could one day have a significant impact on the bottom line of lignocellulosic biorefineries.

"The current industrial pathway to produce adipic acid involves oxidation of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone with nitric acid, which is a harsh process that produces nitrous oxide that must be cleaned up," said Gregg Beckham, senior engineer at NREL and a co-author of the study.

"The development of a new process toward converting renewable lignin feedstocks to adipic acid could potentially provide positive economic benefits and greenhouse gas offsets, but, certainly, major technology improvements must still be made."

Lignin is one of the most abundant organic materials on Earth (second only to cellulose), and it potentially offers a vast, renewable source for the sustainable production of fuels, chemicals, and materials.

Valorization of lignin has been shown by techno-economic analysis conducted at NREL to be essential to the development and success of the biofuels industry. However, because it is inherently difficult to remove from biomass, lignin is currently underutilized in fuel and chemical production.

"While our research is still in the concept stage, this gets us one step closer to improving the technology to expand the slate of molecules that can be viably produced from lignin," Beckham said.

"As more lignocellulosic biorefineries come on line, large quantities of lignin will be generated, and valorization of these waste streams could eventually play a key role for the economic viability and environmental sustainability of biorefineries."


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Space Technology News - Applications and Research






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





TECH SPACE
Smart crystallization
Chester, UK (SPX) Mar 03, 2015
A novel nucleating agent that builds on the concept of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) could allow crystallographers access to proteins and other biological macromolecules that are usually reluctant to form crystals. The semi-liquid non-protein agent is reported by UK scientists. Sahir Khurshid, Lata Govada and Naomi Chayen of Computational and Systems Medicine at Imperial College Lo ... read more


TECH SPACE
Core work: Iron vapor gives clues to formation of Earth and moon

Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history

NASA releases video of the far side of the Moon

US Issuing Licenses for Mineral Mining on Moon

TECH SPACE
Single Site on Mars Advanced for 2016 NASA Lander

Testing to Diagnose Power Event in Mars Rover

New Flight Software to Fix Memory Issues is Onboard Rover

Curiosity confirms methane in Mars' atmosphere

TECH SPACE
Old-economy sectors are now tech, too: US study

Cheap yen, fading Fukushima fears lure Japan tourists

Dubai to build 'Museum of the Future'

Diamantino Sforza - Gentleman Farmer of Prince George's County

TECH SPACE
China's moon rover Yutu functioning but stationary

China at technical preparation stage for Mars, asteroid exploration

Argentina welcomes first Chinese satellite tracking station outside China

More Astronauts for China

TECH SPACE
NASA Hopes to Continue Cooperation on ISS Until 2024

US astronauts speed through spacewalk at orbiting lab

Watching Alloys Change from Liquid to Solid Could Lead to Better Metals

Russia to use International Space Station till 2024

TECH SPACE
Arianespace certified to ISO 50001 at Guiana Space Center

SpaceX launches two communications satellites

Soyuz-2.1a Rocket Takes Military Satellite to Designated Orbit

Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome Construction Reaches Home Stretch

TECH SPACE
Exorings on the Horizon

Planet 'Reared' by Four Parent Stars

Planets Can Alter Each Other's Climates over Eons

The mystery of cosmic oceans and dunes

TECH SPACE
NASA uses CubeSat bus to to test re-enter drag device

US Military Satellite Explodes, Sending Chunks of Debris Into Orbit

UK Space Agency's second CubeSat mission is taking shape

ESA experts assess risk from exploded satellite




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.