Kse, Inc.

The Overall Goal of This Phase I Sbir Program Is to Evaluate, Optimize, and Economically Scale Novel Technology to Convert a Lignocellulose Waste Stream Into a Value-added Intermediate Chemical, Specifically 2,5-FURANDICARBOXYLIC Acid (fdca), at High Selectivity and Without Pre-purification of the Biomass Compounds. Fdca Is Targeted to Replace Petroleum-based Acids Used Extensively in the Textiles, Polyesters, and Plastics Industries. the Global Market as a Drop-in Replacement for Terephthalic Acid (PTA) Is Estimated at 79M Metric Tons in 2020 With a Cagr of 3.3%.COMMON Sources of Lignocellulose Include Renewable, Woody Substrates, Agri-residues, Dedicated Energy Crops, and Municipal Solid Wastes. One Identified Feedstock, From Forest Related Resources, Being a Hydrolysate Stream From Pulp & Paper Processing.project Tasks Include Improving Reactive Distillation & Catalytic Conversion of Pentose Carbohydrates to Furfural, Converting Batch Scale to Continuous Oxidation of Furfural to Furoic Acid, Review Alternative Alkali Metal Catalyst Combinations to Economically Maximize Fdca Yield, Implement a Closed-loop Catalyst Regeneration Process to Control Costs, and Develop an Economic Model Based on the R&d Program to Demonstrate Overall Economic Value Proposition. a Subsequent Phase Ii Program Would Further Enhance, Optimize and Scale Up These Technologies to Develop an Integrated and Highy Intensified Process Targeting a Pulp Mill Hydrolysate Waste Stream for Production of a Value-added Fdca Product.societal Benefits of Utilizing Fdca From This Novel Process Include Health Improvements Associated With Replacing Endocrine Disrupting Phthalate-based Plastics, Improved Barrier/thermo-mechanical Properties of Consumer Plastics, Originating From Renewable Resources, With Process Technology Demonstrating a More Sustainable Carbon Footprint.