Evaluation of the technical and commercial feasibility of the manufacture of bio-based polyester from cellulose derived 5-hydroxymethyl furfural

Aromatic chemicals are a crucial constituent of plastics and bioplastics, conveying functionality such as strength and flexibility. At present, these chemicals can only be sourced economically from fossil-oil. However, lignocellulose is a potential low-cost and renewable input for aromatics both from lignin and indirectly from the cellulose portion. This project evaluates the commercial potential of novel work carried out at the University of Liverpool exploring aromatic chemical manufacture from cellulose. The project will evaluate sensitivity to feedstock type, improve reaction conditions and will be scaled to produce gram quantities. These chemicals will be converted into novel bioplastics and the properties of these materials tested. A techno-economic assessment of the overall process will be carried out to evaluate the commercial potential in both the bioplastic and broader plastics markets.