FurFun

Furan derivatives are of significant interest in the chemical industry for manufacturing a wide range of bio-based chemicals, with primary applications in bio-based solvents and polymers. Among them, furfural is particularly noteworthy as it is one of the few chemicals currently produced on a large scale from lignocellulosic biomass waste, and it is available at an attractive price in the market.

However, the toxicity of furan derivatives will be assessed during the project due to the identified risk for future industrial implementation.

Project objectives

Catalytic systems:

Develop new catalytic systems that are active, selective, and stable for the studied transformations:

• Acid catalysts tolerant to water with variable acidity in strength and number.
• Stable and efficient oxidation catalysts under mild conditions.
• Comparison of heterogeneous catalytic oxidation versus electrocatalysis.

Product variety:

Prepare a wide variety of products:

• Difunctionalized tetrahydrofuran (functionalization/reduction) and disubstituted cyclopentane.
• Substituted aromatics (Diels-Alder/aromatization).
• Alkyl amines (alkylation/cycle opening).
• Evaluate their toxicity (cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, genotoxicity).

Processes:

Optimize the processes:

• Understand the mechanisms.
• Characterize the catalysts, including under operational conditions.

Project lifetime:
 

February 2023 - January 2028

Scientific manager:
 

Catherine Pinel (CNRS)

The consortium:
 

Higher education establishments

Research institutes