Objective Transforming part of the feedstock base of the chemical industry from fossil feedstocks to biomass, as expected by many researchers and companies, requires fundamental changes in the technologies for processing. While fossil feedstocks are non-polar and processed at high temperatures in the gas phase, most biomass derived feedstocks are polar molecules, which are present in aqueous solution and are typically processed at relatively low temperatures in defunctionalization reactions. Yet, most approaches rely on the conventional wisdom of using catalysts developed for fossil feed processing where the conditions almost always exclude the use of polymeric catalysts. However, for the conditions of biomass processing, adapted polymeric catalysts could be ideally suited. This defines the goals of the proposed research program: known and newly designed polymeric catalysts will be explored with respect to their potential in biomass conversion reactions, which could lead to a new paradigm in catalytic biofeedstock processing. In order to achieve this objective, it will be attempted to produce four selected, exemplary classes of polymers in porous form with adjustable porosity. The porous polymer types will then be post-treated with different methods to introduce catalytic functionality (acid/base and redox functionality). The target processes in biomass conversion are prototypical examples which are representative for whole classes of reactions. These include the depolymerisation of the major components of lignocellulose (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and the targeted synthesis of selected platform molecules starting from glucose as the depolymerisation product of cellulose. Successful completion would provide more efficient access to many novel value chains and establish a novel class of catalytic materials. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisagricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-PE5 - ERC Advanced Grant - Materials and Synthesis Call for proposal ERC-2009-AdG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution MAX PLANCK INSTITUT FUER KOHLENFORSCHUNG EU contribution € 1 764 000,00 Address KAISER WILHELM PLATZ 1 45470 Muelheim An Der Ruhr Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Mülheim an der Ruhr Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Franz Ferdinand Schüth (Prof.) Administrative Contact Salome Marenya (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX PLANCK INSTITUT FUER KOHLENFORSCHUNG Germany EU contribution € 1 764 000,00 Address KAISER WILHELM PLATZ 1 45470 Muelheim An Der Ruhr See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Mülheim an der Ruhr Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Franz Ferdinand Schüth (Prof.) Administrative Contact Salome Marenya (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
