Renewable Chemicals from Cellulose

Levulinic Acid

The patented Biofine technology allows for the economic production of levulinic acid from cellulose thus creating the potential to develop a biobased platform.  LA is an extremely versatile platform of great interest to the chemicals industry worldwide.  

BDNE is developing LA for downstream conversion and also for the high value specialty chemicals industry.

Levulinic Acid is one of the twelve most promising biomass-derived chemicals identified by NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Acrylic Acid & 3-Hydroxypropanoic Acid

3-HPA can be directly converted to bio-acrylic acid by dehydration. BDNE has gained exclusive rights to a patent developed by the University of California Davis to produce 3-HPA and AA from cellulosic waste. Acrylic acid is a major commodity chemical with wide-ranging uses in paints and coatings, packaging, diapers, building materials and fibers. This derivative can also be converted easily to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) for resins used in biodegradable plastics.

3-HPA is one of the twelve most promising biomass-derived chemicals identified by NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Diphenolic acid

Diphenolic is a close derivative of LA being produced by reaction of levulinic acid and phenol.  DPA has huge potential in displacing the use of toxic bisphenol A in polycarbonates and epoxy resins. Diphenolic acid is presently used as a specialty decorative coating.  Research has shown that DPA can be used as a direct replacement for bisphenol A in many polymer and resin formulations, in some cases with some comparative advantages for DPA. 

Succinic Acid

Succinic Acid has the potential to become an important building block for deriving both renewable commodity and specialty chemicals. Succinic acid and its derivatives are used as food ingredients, precursors for pharmaceuticals, resins, bio-degradable non-toxic alternative plastics for packaging consumer products and in the food and beverage industry.

Succinic Acid is one of the twelve most promising biomass-derived chemicals identified by NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy.