The electrochemical approach: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Upgrading Biorefinery Waste to Industrial Chemicals and Hydrogen

The DOE is funding a fascinating project to develop a continuous electrochemical process to convert biorefinery waste lignin to substituted aromatic compounds for resins and resin binders. The goal? Integration into biorefinery with revenue generated, to reduce cost of biofuel by 25%

The problem? Lignocellulosic biofuels are not yet cost-competitive without the protection of schemes like the Renewable Fuel Standard, and $45 oil isn’t helping. Meanwhile, biorefinery lignin waste can be converted to aromatic compounds to generate additional revenue. Now, catalytic depolymerization of lignin is difficult to control, yet electrochemical processes can control reaction energetics. So, DOE funded this project led by PI John Staser at Ohio University to use biorefinery waste as a feedstock.

Staser’s team prepared these slides for DOE’s 2017 Project Peer Review meeting.