bio-based chemicals biofuels

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Doing it the 5-HMF way

here is excitement
within bio-based
industries about
platform chemicals,
like levulinic acid, lactic acid
or biosuccinic acid, which can
be used both in a large range
of downstream applications
and have the potential to
open up many new markets.
Possibly less wellknown in this respect is
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
(5-HMF), a platform chemical
which can be made from
renewable raw materials and
which has high potential in a
number of applications across
the chemical, pharmaceutical
and plastics industries. Besides
those applications, research
has also been carried out
into the use of 5-HMF, and
its derivative dimethylfuran
(DMF), as an additive to fuels
in order to replace ethanol.
History

of the top 10 most valuable

platform chemicals by the US
is being used today in the R&D
of new materials and products,
chemicals, resins and additives
among other applications.
5-HMF can be made from
sugars, including those
derived from biomass, which
responds to stakeholders
bio-based materials.
precursor for liquid fuels, as
reported by researchers from
the University of Wisconsin
in the journal Nature in 2007.
Starting with 5-HMF, they
produced dimethylfuran (DMF)
fructose from the bio-based
feedstock, then transforming
the fructose into 5-HMF using
hydrochloric acid and sodium

biofuels international

chloride. The 5-HMF was

then transformed into DMF.
The research showed some
clear advantages to using
DMF in biofuels compared to
ethanol, while explaining that
ethanol suffers from several
limitations including low energy
density, high volatility, and
contamination by the absorption
of water from the atmosphere.
The researchers presented
a catalytic strategy for the
production of 2,5-dimethylfuran
for use as a liquid transportation
fuel. Compared to ethanol,
2,5-dimethylfuran has 40%
higher energy density, a 20K
higher boiling point and it
is not soluble in water, so
the fuel quality is unaffected
by water content.
Biofuels potential
Switzerland-based Ava
Biochem produces 5-HMF
in its Biochem-1 plant in
hydrothermal carbonisation
(HTC) process. The company
is majority owned by AVA-CO2
which produces CO2-neutral
biocoal and biochar using
the HTC process. Biochem-1
commercial-scale production
in January 2014 and is offering
up to 99.9% pure renewable
5-HMF to a range of markets.
The Biochem-1 plant will,
up to 20 tonnes of 5-HMF
per year. Through process
and yield improvements, the
production capacity can be
increased up to 40 tonnes.
The plant can process a range
of biomass, which all comes
from within Europe. Due to
its scale-up potential, and the
possibility of making 5-HMF a
bulk chemical in the future, Ava
Biochems HTC technology will
open entirely new markets for
renewable 5-HMF, including
potentially in biofuels.

2011, AVA Biochem has

developed a process to get
to 5-HMF quicker and more

with Ava Biochems experts,

process so the reaction is
automated and carried out
in a closed system in water
using temperatures of around
200C and pressures of 20bar.
This successful development
allows for a clear path to
production, allowing 5-HMF
to be offered as a bulk
chemical in the future. The
process is particularly welladapted to biomass with
a high water content, such
as by-products from food
production, and it can combine
well with biotechnology.
Bulking up
When bio-based products
can outperform synthetic
chemicals on
price, performance
and sustainability,
they have a high
probability of
commercial success.

the production costs are still

too high today to be used
realistically in the biofuels
industry, this could change in
the medium- or long-term.
But, in the meantime,
they have a range of other
applications and could be
concept where renewable
feedstocks are used to produce
a range of bio-based products.
Alternatively, renewable fuels are
one way we can decarbonise
the global economy and
reduce our dependence on
fossil fuels, and bio-based
chemicals are another.
5-HMF responds to both
of these markets and has
the potential to open up
considerable new markets.
derived chemicals and fuels
by exploiting the natural
carbohydrates in plants, we can
build a very different future.
For more information:
This article was written by Thomas
Biochem, www.ava-biochem.com

for biofuels, it could

go even further
because this biobased substance
could, in principal,
outperform the
most mainstream
renewable fuel
namely ethanol.
Whether 5-HMF
will play an important
role in the biofuels
market will depend
on the ability to
produce it as a
bulk chemical,
while also being
able to compete
Ava Biochem produces 5-HMF in its
not only on quality
but on pricing. While Biochem-1 plant

may/june 2014 75