Chemical engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, using a catalytic fast pyrolysis process that transforms lignocellulosic feedstocks into petrochemicals, have developed a new catalyst that boosts the yield of five key “building blocks of the chemical industry” by 40% compared with previous methods. This sustainable production process, which holds the promise of being competitive and compatible with the current petroleum refinery infrastructure, has been tested and proven in a laboratory reactor. The research team leader is George Huber. The five platform chemicals their process can produce are benzene, toluene, and xylene, which are aromatics, and ethylene and propylene, which… Login to continue

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