LEVANTE: LEvulinic acid Valorization through Advanced Novel Technologies
Progetto finanziato nell’ambito del progetti nazionali PRIN 2020
The project LEVANTE deals with the development of new catalytic processes for the valorization of one of the top-12 bio-based building block, levulinic acid (LA) and its esters (LE). These compounds derive directly from ligno cellulose, that is the most abundant non-food, waste biopolymer, thus being, the most promising feedstock to meet the criteria of a more sustainable circular economy. The contemporary presence of two functionalities (carbonylic and carboxylic) on LA and LE, make them very attractive andversatile molecules due to the variety of conversions and functionalization that are possible. This project will be focused on three classes: (i)levulinic ketals, used in industry as solvents, fuel additives, plasticizersor biodegradable surfactants; (ii) diphenolic acid (DPA), employed for epoxy resin and polycarbonate production; (iii) valerolactone (GVL) and other reduction products (GVL-RP), finding application as green solvents, biofuels and platform chemicals.
Main expected outcomes of the LEVANTE project
- development of new family of performant and stable non-noble metal heterogeneous catalysts, including biomass-derived systems, for the transformation of LA/LE in a series of valuable-added products, ketals, DPA, GVL-RP;
- creation of a new pool of scientific knowledge in terms of reaction mechanisms and structure-activity relationships;
- development of continuous flow reactors for the efficient and economical valuable transformation of LA/LE.
Involved Research Units:
- Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale.
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta” - CNR, Milano.
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II - Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche.
- Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna - Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari”.
- Università degli Studi di Salerno - Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia “Adolfo Zambelli”.
Partners:
GFBiochemicals
ARCHA Srl