EKB4293

GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL PROCESS

12 PRINCIPLES OF GREEN CHEMISTRY

PRINCIPLE 7
USE OF RENEWABLE
FEEDSTOCKS
 Introduction

 Mankind currently removes fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas from
the ground and extracts minerals for profit until they are exhausted.
 These non-renewable materials are being rapidly depleted with the
expected rise of global populations and expanding energy use.
 Additionally, non-renewable sources give significant impacts on
human health and the environment
 Hence, a raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather
than depleting whenever technically and economically practical
 Principle 7 is about making all our future fuels, chemicals and
materials from feedstocks that never depletes
 General Overview

Biomaterials [Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids]

• Aim: To produce highly Highly Functionalized Molecules
functionalized molecules from
biomaterials

• Traditional method: Biomaterials

Green Method
decompose into fossil fuel which Petroleum Products [Hydrocarbons]
takes millions of years. Non-
renewable fossil fuel is obtained,
processed, and refined in
multiple stages to obtain
Singly Functionalized Compounds [Olefins, Alkylchlorides]
desirable products.

• Green method: Obtain desired

products directly from
renewable biomaterials Highly Functionalized Molecules
 Petroleum-based Polymers
 The most common petroleum-based polymers are polyethylene and
polypropylene
 Production of polyethylene from ethylene

 Production of Polypropylene from propylene

 Both ethylene and propylene are obtained from fossil fuel

 The polymers are non-degradable and causes serious environmental pollution
Production of Petroleum-
based Polymers
Polymers from Renewable Resources:
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)
 Fermentation of glucose in the presence of bacteria and propanoic
acid (product contains 5-20% polyhydroxyvalerate)
 Final product is similar to polypropene and polyethene
 Biodegradable
 Simpler production process
Production of PHA
Polymers from Renewable Resources:
Polylactic acid (PLA)

 PLA is made from starchy renewable

plants like corn, switch grass, and
sugar beets
 These materials are processed into a
biopolymer that looks, acts, and
performs like its traditional, harmful
cousin: petroleum-based plastics.
 Product is biodegradable
The BioFine Process; Levulinic Acid

Paper mill
 Levulinic acid is a crystalline keto acid sludge
prepared from paper mill sludge,
agricultural residues, waste wood and
municipal wastes by boiling them with
dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acids.
 Recognized as one of the top biobased Agricultural
platform chemicals of the future residues,
Waste wood
 A versatile building block with a clear
value proposition in chemicals.
 Levulinic acid can successfully address
many performance-related issues
attributed to petroleum-based chemicals Municipal solid waste
and materials. and waste paper
Levulinic acid as a platform chemical
Production of Levulinic Acid