Synthesis of chemical building blocks from C5-C6 Sugars

The industry faces a significant challenge changing itself from a fossil feedstock based industry towards a biobased industry. Several important steps are already taken concerning the valorisation of biomass. In the industry, there is an opportunity to valorise the hemicellulose waste stream further. Therefore RVO and BCB have set up a working group to explore the possibilities of hemicellulose. This scouting project aims at further processing the C5-C6 sugars in hemicellulose (arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, ribose, lyxose) to chemical building blocks with excellent synthesis properties (low oxygen level, good selectivity). Examples of such a building block are 1,5-Pentanediol and ethylene oxide. These building blocks can be used to produce new biobased products. The type of building blocks will remain open in this scouting project, aiming at exploring new conversion routes and products.