Production of HMF, FDCA and their derived products: a review of life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) studies

Abstract

This review article summarises and discusses methodological and chemical aspects of LCA and TEA studies of HMF, FDCA and their derived products.

Processing Miscanthus to high‐value chemicals: A techno‐economic analysis based on process simulation

“…A study of FNR showed that the material prices of biobased and biodegradable plastic goods are 2–3 times higher than that of competing petrochemical materials (Rohstoffe eV FN, 2014). This is aligned with our findings of a HMF market price of approximately 2–3 EUR/kg compared to the fossil equivalent for polyester production of 0.85 EUR/kg para‐xylene (Davidson et al, 2021). To enter the market rapidly HMF must be converted into customer goods with advanced functionalities such as polyethylenefuranoate PEF, which has better barrier properties compared to PET (Burgess et al, 2014).…”

“…In its configuration of a sucrose HMF plant, Steinbach assumes production costs of 4.30 EUR/kg (Steinbach, 2020). Regardless of the underlying technology maturity, starting biomass, reaction media and calculation methods used, Davidson et al (2021) show HMF prices ranging from 0.35 (minimum production costs, not price) to 2.16 (minimum selling price) $/kg in a review article published in 2020. With prices between 2.21 and 2.90 EUR/kg, we are just out of the range.…”

“…All of the processes used to produce the desired chemicals can be grouped under the term hydrothermal processes (HTP) in acidic and aqueous media. According to Davidson (Davidson et al, 2021), these are preferable to the alternative solvent‐based reaction media because of the lower environmental impact and better cost‐effectiveness. In the pretreatment module M 1, the chopped miscanthus straw is decomposed with water and sulfuric acid in a hydrothermal process at about 200°C into its solid lignin fraction and a carbohydrate‐rich solution consisting mainly of glucose, glucooligosaccharides and xyloses (Świątek et al, 2020).…”

Synergistic decarboxylation over Ce-doped Na/SiO2 facilitating functionalized monomer production from furfural for manufacturing polymers

“…19–21 More importantly, 2-vinylfuran is an ideal substitute for styrene, and can be used to produce renewable polymers because its structure is similar to that of styrene, which is boosted by the success in manufacturing commercial biopolyesters using 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid to replace terephthalic acid. 22–26 Current methods for 2-vinylfuran synthesis are dominated by Peterson olefination, in which renewable furfural and (trimethylsilyl)methylmagnesium chloride (TMSCH 2 MgCl) are used. 27,28 The Wittig reaction has also been applied for this route, which affords a 99% yield of 2-vinylfuran when a methyltriphenylphosphonium methylcarbonate salt ([Ph 3 PCH 3 ][CH 3 OCO 2 ]) was employed.…”

Photoelectrochemical Oxidation in Ambient Conditions Using Earth-Abundant Hematite Anode: A Green Route for the Synthesis of Biobased Polymer Building Blocks

“…The tremendous growth in the chemical manufacturing industry during the past century has relied heavily on exploiting fossil resources to provide both carbon for the chemicals and materials as well as energy for the processes. The chemical manufacturing contributes nearly 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions (amounting to 880 Mt CO 2 equivalent in 2018) [1,2]. Replacing fossil energy with a renewable alternative such as solar energy and using biomass for providing renewable carbon provides a sustainable route for a fossil-free chemical industry of the future [3][4][5].…”