WG1: Synthetic approaches towards FDCA and related monomers
2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid is one of the most important key bio-based platform chemicals coming out from biorefineries. However, its large scale production/exploitation has still many key challenges. Some of the most important are related with the use of edible starting biomass feedstocks (especially corn); others concern the catalytic conversion of HMF under basic conditions, resulting in the FDCA salt form, which cannot be directly used in the polymer industry; or the development of additional furan-routes that circumvent the production of unstable HMF. These important challenges will be addressed in this Action, in fact in WG1 the quest for innovative routes to obtain FDCA and related monomers such as, for example, bifuranic-diols and diacids (that can be viewed as an expansion of FDCA type monomers), in high purity and yield, with a special emphasis on the use of non-edible renewable feedstocks and on low-value industrial waste residues, along with the sustainability and efficiency of the technologies involved (WG3), will be targeted.
TASKS
T1.1 Starting inventory of the current status-quo of FDCA-routes (and FDCA-based materials). Information will be collected not only through literature search and patent analysis but also through the organisation of a topic-dedicated seminar and workshop.
T1.2 Mapping/analysis of the information collected in T1.1 and brainstorming event to create the basis for new/most promissing roots to follow.
T1.3 On-going grouping and ordering of results of WG1 activities towards FDCA (and related derivatives) to create a new overview to be discussed in multidisciplinary panels, formed by researchers, technologists/industry covering the complete value chain, market and LCA experts. This, on the one hand, to promote synergetic approaches among WGs members; and on the other hand, to define themost promising approaches, especially regarding their practical implementation, for development under WG3, and/or the technological evolution needed for their successful development.