Catalysis for Monomers and Polymers from Renewable Resources

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable, environmentally friendly polymers from renewable resources are considered benign alternatives for petrochemical plastics. Biobased polymers can be obtained through chemical modification of natural polymers, but they can also be synthesized via a two-step process from biomass (lignin, cellulose, starch, plant oils). Production of value-added co-products, such as monomers from biomass, along-side biofuels through integrated biorefinery processes is beneficial. Drop-in monomers, such as ethylene, or terephthalic acid, or new monomers like 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, isosorbide, lactic acid, and vanillic acid, can be obtained through chemical or biochemical conversion. Polymerization of bioderived monomers enables production of bioplastics including biopolyethylene, bio-poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(lactic acid), or poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF). Finally, CO₂ can be also used as monomer in polymer synthesis.

Most biobased monomers are currently derived from fermentation or biotechnology. Chemocatalytic processes can also be used to arrive to both drop in and new bioplastic precursors. In fact, such processes are emerging in an effort to tackle challenges related with fermentation.

This Special Issue, entitled “Catalysis for Monomers and Polymers from Renewable Resources,” will include research papers and reviews, reflecting the state-of-the-art developments in the field of heterogenous catalysis, homogenous catalysis and biocatalysis in monomer production from biomass, and also catalysis in biobased polymer synthesis.

Prof. Dr. George Z. Papageorgiou
Dr. Angelos Lappas
Guest Editor

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