Enhanced Biomass Valorisation by Engineering of Polyoxometalate Catalysts

Introduction

This project builds on a recent and ground-breaking discovery of the PI in the field of homogeneously catalysed, selective biomass valorisation. Materials technologies that promise improved catalytic performance are of utmost interest for a more sustainable chemical industry.

New Paradigm in Catalysis

Manipulating molecular catalysts like polyoxometalates (POM) in solution by tuning the solvent properties and gas atmospheres introduces a new paradigm in homogeneous-catalysed biomass valorisation technologies.

Key Findings

It has been found that by using methanol as a (co)solvent, POM catalysts can completely suppress undesired total oxidation to CO2 under oxidative conditions. This drastically enhances the carbon efficiency from biomass to close to 100% yield. Remarkably, this manipulating effect could be explained with the formation of a new vanadyl-methanolate-complex in methanol-aqueous solutions having a methanol content of at least 10%.

Project Objectives

The proposed BioValCat project aims to develop this potentially disruptive technology towards an industrially viable biomass valorisation process by laying the foundations for a scalable, safe, and economic process for the oxidation of biomass to valuable carboxylic acid esters.

Key Challenges

The project is structured according to the key challenges that have to be mastered in order to achieve this ambitious goal:

1. Investigations to identify the nature of the POM-solvent interactions.
2. Understanding and revealing the key organic mechanisms in solution.
3. Development of novel POM catalysts specifically optimised to perform in aqueous-alcoholic solvent mixtures.
4. Extension of the substrate and product scope to industrially viable biomass feedstock.
5. Process development, with special emphasis on safety aspects, process intensification, as well as product isolation and catalyst recovery.

Conclusion

With the proposed project, the PI aims to pave the scientific route to novel, low-cost biomass utilisation technologies with great promise for decentralised valorisation of biogenic waste.