Adaptive processing of natural feedstocks
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Warwick HRI
Abstract
SummaryNatural factories / plants / are capable of synthesising very complex functional molecules, which are then often mimicked for their function (as a drug, a fragrance, etc) through chemical synthesis. Such syntheses are not always feasible. In most cases the required transformations cannot be readily achieved due to the labile nature of the functional groups on the molecule of interest. Hence, using natural feedstocks as libraries of unique high-value molecules, and as factories that can be optimised to produce higher quantities of the desired molecules, is the approach that is potentially hugely rewarding, leading to creation of new markets. This route may also lead to the reduction of environmental impact of chemical technologies through avoiding the use of non-renewable feedstocks, complete utilisation of plant biomass and integrating plant feedstocks utilisation with energy and fertiliser technologies. This project will develop new adaptive processing technologies tackling main factors inducing variability in the overall process and consecutively affecting primary plant processing as well as downstream biodigestion and separation processes.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Guy Barker (Principal Investigator) | |
Andrew Clark (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Coles SR
(2008)
Synthetic mimicking of plant oils and comparison with naturally grown products in polyurethane synthesis.
in Macromolecular bioscience
Mohd-Rus A
(2009)
Degradation Studies of Polyurethanes Based on Vegetable Oils. Part 2. Thermal Degradation and Materials Properties
in Progress in Reaction Kinetics and Mechanism
Rus A
(2008)
Degradation Studies of Polyurethanes Based on Vegetable Oils. Part 1. Photodegradation
in Progress in Reaction Kinetics and Mechanism
Suberu J
(2013)
A rapid method for the determination of artemisinin and its biosynthetic precursors in Artemisia annua L. crude extracts.
in Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis