Prof Creates High-Value Chemicals from Biomass

Walter Trahanovsky (right) in his lab with Ronald Holtan, a postdoctoral research associate. (Bob Elbert)

An Iowa State University researcher in Ames, Iowa has discovered a method for producing chemicals such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol from biomass rather than petroleum. Both chemicals are used in a variety of commercial and industrial products.

Walter Trahanovsky, an Iowa State professor of chemistry was looking to produce sugar derivatives from cellulose and other forms of biomass using high-temperature chemistry. This work led Trahanovsky’s research group to study the reactions of cellulosic materials in alcohols at high temperatures and pressures. (Trahanovsky is pictured left with Ronald Holtan, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab.)

They analyzed the products of the reactions using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Early experiments produced the expected sugar derivatives, but later on they also found significant yields of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is used auto antifreeze, polyester fabrics and plastic bottles, while propylene glycol is made into a food additive, solvent in pharmaceuticals, moisturizer in cosmetics and coolant in liquid cooling systems.

This research also led to a better process for converting biomass to these chemicals. Biomass conversion into fuels or chemicals often involves strong acids or other harsh compounds that wastes requiring special handling and disposal. This process, says Trahanovsky, is based on the chemistry of supercritical fluids, which are heated under pressure until their liquid and gas phases merge. The conversion in this case takes place without expensive reagents such as acids, enzymes, catalysts or hydrogen gas.

The Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc. has filed for a patent of the technology.

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