Chapters authored
Conversion of Cellulose into Value-Added Products
Rapid industrialization has led to development of various platform chemicals and fossil fuel refinery is one of the mainstreams for their production. However continuous depletion of fossil fuels reserves has led an urge to look for alternate source of feedstocks. Among various renewable sources, biomass is found to be most sustainable as it is replaced naturally. Biomass by virtue of its nature is comprised of various recalcitrant polymers and cellulose is one of them, which can be used for the generation of various platform chemicals. This chapter gives a background of cellulose and illustrate platform chemicals that can be produced from cellulose.
Part of the book: Cellulose Science and Derivatives
Catalysis for Glycerol Production and Its Applications
Globally, there is a climate change due to greenhouse gases, hence the production processes for chemicals should comply with green chemistry principles to decrease the impact it has on the climate. This book chapter focuses on the catalytic production of glycerol, which is a platform chemical that is widely used in the manufacture of various industrially important chemicals and derivatives, namely 2,3-dihydroxypropanal, glycerol ether, glycerol ester, acrolein, 1,2-propanediol and glycidol. The literature reviewed compares the production of glycerol using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, to determine efficient and environmentally benign glycerol catalysts and to study glycerol as a platform chemical and its value in application.
Part of the book: Ethanol and Glycerol Chemistry