Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
09:58
Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
12.1K
Catalytic Oxidations in a Bio-Based Economy
1School of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Frontiers in Chemistry
|March 18, 2020
Summary
Bio- and chemo-catalytic aerobic oxidations are crucial for producing commodity chemicals in biorefineries. These processes utilize carbohydrates in water under mild conditions, differing from petrochemical methods.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Green Chemistry
- Catalysis and Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Petrochemical refineries use high-temperature, solvent-free oxidation of hydrocarbon feedstocks.
- Biorefineries process water-soluble carbohydrate feedstocks, primarily using aerobic oxidation in aqueous solutions.
- Existing methods require adaptation for efficient conversion of carbohydrates to valuable chemicals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of bio- and chemo-catalytic aerobic oxidations in biorefineries.
- To highlight the differences between biorefinery and petrochemical feedstock conversion.
- To emphasize the need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly oxidation processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on bio- and chemo-catalytic aerobic oxidations.
- Analysis of feedstock characteristics (carbohydrates vs. hydrocarbons).
- Comparison of reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, solvent).
Main Results:
- Biorefinery oxidations involve water-soluble carbohydrates under mild, aqueous conditions.
- Petrochemical oxidations use hydrocarbons at high temperatures and solvent-free.
- Development of catalytic methods for alcohols and polyols from carbohydrates is essential.
Conclusions:
- Aerobic oxidation of carbohydrates in biorefineries presents unique challenges and opportunities.
- Cost-effective and sustainable chemo- and biocatalytic processes are needed for commodity chemical production.
- Mild reaction conditions in aqueous media are key for biorefinery applications.
Keywords:
alcohol oxidasesbio-based economybiocatalysisbiomasscarbohydratescatalytic oxidationwaste valorizationMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:50Catalysis
29.9K
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
29.9K
01:19Phase I Oxidative Reactions: Overview
637
Phase I biotransformation, or functionalization, is a crucial chemical process that converts drugs and other xenobiotics into more water-soluble forms, facilitating expulsion from the body. It involves oxidative, reductive, and hydrolytic reactions that add or unveil polar functional groups on lipophilic substrates. Key players in phase I reactions are the mixed-function oxidases. Situated in liver cell microsomes, these enzymes predominantly carry out drug metabolism. They require molecular...
637
01:19Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
8.9K
Energy production within a cell involves many coordinated chemical pathways. Most of these pathways are combinations of oxidation and reduction reactions, which occur at the same time. An oxidation reaction strips an electron from an atom in a compound, and the addition of this electron to another compound is a reduction reaction. Because oxidation and reduction usually occur together, these pairs of reactions are called redox reactions.
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
8.9K
01:46Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes: Ozonolysis
12.6K
In ozonolysis, ozone is used to cleave a carbon–carbon double bond to form aldehydes and ketones, or carboxylic acids, depending on the work-up.
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.
12.6K
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
3.8K
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
3.8K
02:44Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
12.4K
Alkenes are converted to 1,2-diols or glycols through a process called dihydroxylation. It involves the addition of two hydroxyl groups across the double bond with two different stereochemical approaches, namely anti and syn. Dihydroxylation using osmium tetroxide progresses with syn stereochemistry.
12.4K