Archive for May, 2014

Flue gas reclaimed as polymer feedstock

The first systematic environmental assessment of an industrial plant that produces polyols from carbon dioxide has revealed that they significantly reduce both carbon dioxide emissions and the demand on fossil fuel reserves.

Polyols are the major component of polyurethanes, which make up foams or thermoplastic urethanes in a wide range of applications from mattresses to ski boots. Most polymers are made from fossil fuel-based feedstocks.

To read more on this article please visit Chemistry World.

Life cycle assessment of polyols for polyurethane production using CO2 as feedstock: insights from an industrial case study
Niklas von der Assen and André Bardow  
Green Chem., 2014,16, 3272-3280
DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00513A

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10th International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries

The 10th International Conference on Renewable Resources and Biorefineries is taking place on June 4-6, 2014 in Valladoid, Spain. A range of delegates from university, industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations and venture capital providers will present their views on industrial biotechnology, sustainable (green) chemistry and agricultural policy related to the use of renewable raw materials for non-food applications and energy supply.

The conference further aims to provide an overview of the scientific, technical, economic, environmental and social issues of renewable resources and biorefineries to give an impetus to the biobased economy and to present new developments in this area. The conference will provide a forum for leading political, corporate, academic and financial people to discuss recent developments and set up collaborations.

The three day international conference will consist of plenary lectures and oral presentations by international experts, a poster session and an exhibition. Companies and research organizations are also offered the opportunity to organize a satellite symposium. Around 400 international participants are expected from over 30 countries.

A great line-up of speakers has been confirmed, with the following as just a small selection:

  • Prof. Richard Wool, University of Delaware, USA
  • Prof. Karen Wilson, European Bioenergy Research Institute
  • Prof. Eric Beckmann, University of Pittsburgh, USA
  • Prof. Yusuf Christi, Massey University, New Zealand

There’s still time to sign up with pre-registration closing on June 1, 2014.

Visit the website for more information and to register: www.rrbconference.com/rrb-10-welcome

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Freeze-dried cells make better biocatalysts

A biocatalytic cascade using mashed-up cells has overcome extraction and solubility problems associated with using enzymes in chemical syntheses.

Enzymes are excellent catalysts for making chiral molecules. One-pot reactions under mild conditions are often possible with more than one catalyst, allowing multi-step syntheses in one go. But if enzymes are used as catalysts, they have to be extracted and purified, and expensive co-factors often need to be added. There are also solubility issues: enzymes are usually most active in buffers, but many of their substrates are hydrophobic, limiting the productivity of the biotransformation because the substrate won’t dissolve in aqueous buffers.

It is thought that the cell envelope helps to stabilise the enzymes in organic solvent

 To read more on this article please visit Chemistry World.

A two-step biocatalytic cascade in micro-aqueous medium: using whole cells to obtain high concentrations of a vicinal diol
Andre Jakoblinnerta and Dörte Rother  
Green Chem., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00010B

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HOT articles in Green Chemistry

Take a look at the latest selection, which are free for you to read for the next four weeks! Graphical abstract: Preparation of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives in aqueous media with β-cyclodextrin-SO3H as a recyclable catalyst

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a reusable solvent medium for an asymmetric organocatalytic Michael addition. Application to the synthesis of bioactive compounds
Karla S. Feu, Alexander F. de la Torre, Sandrina Silva, Marco A. F. de Moraes Junior, Arlene G. Corrêa and Márcio W. Paixão
Green Chem., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00098F, Paper

Pressurized hot water flow-through extraction system scale up from the laboratory to the pilot scale
P. O. Kilpeläinen, S. S. Hautala, O. O. Byman, L. J. Tanner, R. I. Korpinen, M. K-J. Lillandt, A. V. Pranovich, V. H. Kitunen, S. M. Willför and H. S. Ilvesniemi
Green Chem., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00274A, Paper

A one-pot biosynthesis of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/bacterial cellulose (BC) nanocomposites
Avinav G. Nandgaonkar, Qingqing Wang, Kun Fu, Wendy E. Krause, Qufu Wei, Russel Gorga and Lucian A. Lucia
Green Chem., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00264D, Paper

Preparation of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives in aqueous media with β-cyclodextrin-SO3H as a recyclable catalyst
Jian Wu, Xianli Du, Juan Ma, Yuping Zhang, Qingcai Shi, Lijun Luo, Baoan Song, Song Yang and Deyu Hu
Green Chem., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3GC42400F, Paper

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