Darryn W. Rackemann

This study investigated the commercial-scale production of furan-based chemicals (furanics) from sugarcane bagasse, using 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF) as an intermediate platform molecule for the production of bio-based chemicals and materials. A process was developed to convert sugarcane bagasse from a co-located sugar mill to CMF and subsequently upgrade it to 5-methylfurfural (5-MF) or 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) to recover the chlorine and recycle as HCl back into the process. The economics and environmental factors for a production facility processing 237,600 t bagasse per annum were investigated. The total capital investment for CMF production is estimated at $63 million, for 5-methylfurfural production at $104 million, and for 2,5-dimethylfuran production at $135 million. The minimum selling price (MSP) for CMF is $0.97/kg; for 5-methylfurfural is $1.68/kg; and for 2,5-dimethylfuran is $2.76/kg. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the minimum selling price of CMF is significantly influenced by the CMF yield, costs of hydrochloric acid (HCl), feedstock, and utilities. The use of HCl also poses a technical and environmental challenge for recycling due to the existence of an azeotrope with water. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of production were calculated to be 1.63 kgCO2-eq/kg CMF, 1.28 kgCO2-eq/kg 5-methylfurfural and 2.50 kgCO2-eq/kg 2,5-dimethylfuran, largely contributed to by HCl use. Therefore, process improvements targeting HCl use reduction are recommended. Solvent-free upgrading to furanic derivatives is proposed to reduce separation costs and improve process efficiency. Despite current challenges, the results demonstrate that CMF can serve as a sustainable and economically attractive route for producing bio-based furanics, showing potential for competitiveness with 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural-based pathways.

A detailed study of reduction of supported RuO ₂ nanoparticles by organic molecules. The relationship between reduction heat, reaction products, nanoparticle dispersion, and catalytic activity was investigated.

During juice evaporation, sucrose loss can occur due to degradation reactions that are influenced by heat, pH, residence time, and dry substance content. The impacts of heat can be controlled through process and equipment design, and juice pH could be optimised to reduce its effects on degradation reactions. A factory sampling program was conducted with…

To reduce the production cost of chemicals from renewable resources, the feedstock loading must be high and the catalyst must be of low cost and efficient. In this study, at a very short reaction time of 10 min at 125 °C, concentrated sugar solutions (20 wt %, 101 wt % on solvent) were converted to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) over a cotton gin trash (CGT)-derived sulfonated carbon catalyst in a 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) biphasic system. We report, for the first time, that the presence of glucose either as a covalently bonded monomer in sucrose or in a mixture with fructose achieved yields of HMF up to 62 mol % compared to a value of only 39 mol % obtained with fructose on its own. In the concentrated reaction medium, glucose, fructose, and sucrose molecules produce difructose anhydrides, dimers/reversion products, and sucrose isomers. The glucose-fructose dimers formed in sucrose and glucose/fructose reaction systems play a critical role in the transformation of the sugars to a higher-than-expected HMF yield. Thus, a strategy of using cellulosic glucose, where it is partially converted to fructose content and the high sugar concentration sugar mixture is then converted to HMF, should be exploited for future biorefineries.