ISU Researchers Develop Novel Supercritical Process to Create High-Value Chemicals from Biomass...

摘要

Prof. Walter Trahanovsky and colleagues at Iowa State University's (ISU) Energy Center have developed a novel process for converting cellulose and related materials to high-value chemicals with low molecular weights. The biomass conversion process is based on the chemistry of supercritical fluids. The ISU method, which involves heating under pressure a mixture of cellulose and low-molecular-weight alcohol, does not require pretreatment of the starting material and can be used to produce ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and other low molecular weight materials without the use of expensive reagents, metal catalysts, hydrogen gas or enzymes.