PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE AROMATIC COMPOUNDS FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC FEEDSTOCKS

Growing concerns over the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 
on the climate have stimulated the search for long-term 
strategies for producing fuels, and chemicals from 
renewable sources of carbon. The challenge is to find innovative technologies and sustainable alternatives that preserve the range of materials and products currently derived from petroleum while limiting the deleterious effects of anthropogenic climate change, associated with its use. One promising technology is to utilize the abundant, inexpensive lignocellulosic feedstocks and its conversion to aromatic hydrocarbons through a series of biological and catalytic procedures into high-value chemicals used in the polymer, plastics and transportation industries. Visolis aims to develop a hybrid bio-thermocatalytic process using engineered microbes to convert cellulosic C5/C6 sugars arising from a wide variety of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks into high value bioproducts for the plastics and polymers industries. The key technology developed under the Phase I is to utilize the abundant lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks and produce a sustainable green alternative to the traditional petrochemical- based processes at a cost-competitive price, without any food security concerns, into plastics, polymers and fuel additives. Key to the success of the commercialization effort will be the successful completion of Phase I, meeting all the yield and quality targets, and securing partners, ideally one of the end-users of our products. In Phase II, the large-scale application of this technology in pilot-scale will be demonstrated and to fine-tune the processes integration for running a commercial-scale plant. Upon full development, our process will produce a portfolio of high-value renewable aromatic chemicals, with several economic advantages, including lower feedstock cost, greater feedstock flexibility, inexpensive product synthesis/separation and in the displacement of fossil fuels.