Catalysis and Chemical Engineering Global Conference

Catalysis is key to biorefinery operation. Biorefineries take the renewable feedstock biomass and convert it into valuable products such as biofuels, bioplastics, and specialty chemicals. Catalysts optimize chemical reactions so that biorefineries can indeed preferentially process agricultural waste, forestry residues, and other organic materials that are often waste products from consuming fossil fuels, toward a circular economy. So this session talks about catalysis in biorefineries and such processes create innovative long-term solutions for energy, materials, and more. The process of breaking down biomass into its molecular components and converting these constituents into a variety of useful products involves the all-important role of catalysts in lowering reaction energies and improving selectivity. For example, catalysts can break down complex carbohydrates in plant material into simple sugars that can be converted into bioethanol-a renewable fuel alternative to gasoline. Other catalytic processes convert the lignin byproduct of biomass into value-added chemicals and materials. Perhaps one of the great challenges in biorefineries is the efficient conversion of biomass into high-value products without wasting any materials. Catalysis provides a way to bypass this limitation by much better control of reaction pathways. Heterogeneous catalysts have been widely used in biorefineries, either acid-based solids or metal catalysts, for the simple fact that they can endure harsh conditions and may easily be separated from the products. Hydrodeoxygenation-the removal of oxygen from the oxygen-bearing groups installed within compounds derived from biomass-translates them into hydrocarbons that find use as fuels or intermediate chemicals within the chemical industry. Catalysis in biorefineries also supports green chemistry through the selective use of renewable feedstocks and through reduction of the environmental load of chemicals production. Biorefineries are not usually processed with such high temperatures and pressure as a classical petroleum refinery; thus, they generate very minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Catalysts in biorefinery processes can be engineered to selectively yield desired products with minimal purification or byproduct formation. This promotes a more efficient and sustainable process in alignment with environmental goals.Catalysis is key to biorefinery operations. Biorefineries utilize renewable biomass feedstocks and convert them into valuable products such as biofuels, bioplastics, and specialty chemicals. Catalysts optimize chemical reactions, enabling biorefineries to efficiently process agricultural waste, forestry residues, and other organic materials, which are often waste products from fossil fuel consumption, contributing to a circular economy. This session will discuss the role of catalysis in biorefineries and how these processes create innovative, long-term solutions for energy, materials, and more.

The process of breaking down biomass into its molecular components and converting these constituents into various useful products heavily relies on catalysts to lower reaction energies and improve selectivity. For example, catalysts can break down complex carbohydrates in plant materials into simple sugars that can be converted into bioethanol, a renewable alternative to gasoline. Other catalytic processes can convert lignin, a byproduct of biomass, into value-added chemicals and materials.

One of the major challenges in biorefineries is achieving the efficient conversion of biomass into high-value products without material wastage. Catalysis addresses this by providing better control over reaction pathways. Heterogeneous catalysts, including acid-based solids and metal catalysts, are commonly used in biorefineries due to their ability to withstand harsh conditions and ease of separation from the products. Hydrodeoxygenation, for instance, removes oxygen from oxygen-bearing groups in biomass-derived compounds, transforming them into hydrocarbons suitable as fuels or chemical intermediates.

Catalysis in biorefineries also promotes green chemistry by using renewable feedstocks selectively and reducing the environmental impact of chemical production. Unlike classical petroleum refineries, biorefineries operate under lower temperatures and pressures, resulting in minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Catalysts in biorefinery processes can be engineered to yield desired products with minimal purification or byproduct formation, fostering a more efficient and sustainable process aligned with environmental goals.