Green Pathways for the Enzymatic Synthesis of Furan-Based Polyesters and Polyamides

The attention towards the utilization of sustainable feedstocks for polymer synthesis has grown exponentially in recent years. One of the spotlighted monomers derived from renewable resources is 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), one of the most promising bio-based monomers, due to its resemblance to petroleum-based terephthalic acid. Very interesting synthetic routes using this monomer have been reported in the last two decades. Combining the use of bio-based monomers and non-toxic chemicals via enzymatic polymerizations can lead to a robust and favorable approach towards a greener technology of bio-based polymer production. In this chapter, a brief introduction to FDCA-based monomers and enzymatic polymerizations is given, particularly focusing on furan-based polymers and their polymerization. In addition, an outline of the recent developments in the field of enzymatic polymerizations is discussed. </p

Valorization of coffee byproducts for bioethanol production using lignocellulosic yeast fermentation and pervaporation

Industrial residue management is a critical element of sustainable development. The aim of this research was to investigate the potential of different coffee waste fractions for bioethanol fermentation and its purification by pervaporation; these fractions and the role of pervaporation in this application have not been studied before. Bioethanol production from different coffee waste fractions has now been studied by acid or acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. The fermentation was conducted using two different yeasts (baker’s yeast and lignocellulosic yeast). By using the cellulolytic enzymes and lignocellulosic yeast, a higher bioethanol yield was achieved. Further purification of the fermented filtrate was carried out by an alcohol selective pervaporation membrane at four temperatures (23, 30, 40 and 50 °C). Hydrolysis of the samples using cellulose complex and β-glucosidase enzymes and fermentation with lignocellulosic yeast, followed by purification using pervaporation resulted a superior bioethanol yield of 51.7 ± 7.4 g/l for spent coffee and 132.2 ± 40 g/l for husk. Husk hydrolysis using cellulolytic enzymes and fermentation with lignocellulosic yeast, followed by product recovery through pervaporation membrane, was found to be the optimal procedure, producing ethanol at a concentration of 132.2 ± 40 g/l. In general, husk hydrolysis using acid and cellulolytic hydrolysis and fermentation with lignocellulosic yeast GSE16-T18 followed by pervaporation was found to be the best process for producing the highest ethanol yield compared to the other fractions of coffee waste samples