Research lines of the group
Biomass valorization (Furfural derivatives)One of the great challenges currently facing society is the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to another one based on renewable energy. In this sense, biomass is one of the renewable energy sources which, in addition, can provide us with chemicals.
This project, funded by Fundación Ramón Areces, deals with valorization of furfural derivatives (platform molecules from biomass) into energy (diesel and hydrogen) and furfuryl alcohol (with many applications such as production of fibers, resins or use as solvent). Target molecules are obtained through one-pot processes starting from C5 and C6 sugars and using some multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts (with acid/base, metal and photoactive sites). Moreover, the promotion of the processes through non-conventional radiation sources (ultrasounds and microwaves) will be explored. The use of one-pot or cascade reactions will minimize separation steps thus rendering the processes more cost-effective with a view to industrial application. The project responds to one of the main goals of Spanish Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) and H2020: process intensification. Read the summary information on our Project "Design of multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for one-pot biomass transformation into fuels and chemicals" on Pan European Networks; Science & Technology, vol.20, pag.217. |
Biomass valorization (Glycerol)
Our group participated in the COST Action CM0903 (UBIOCHEM) and according to some of its objectives, worked on the valorisation of organic compounds obtained from biomass by heterogeneous catalysis:
- Biomass to platform chemicals: production and further valorisation of platform chemicals that can be produced by biological or chemical processes from lignocellulose and used as building blocks for the formation of new product families.
- Upgrading of glycerol as by-product in bio-diesel production.
Applied Heterogeneous Catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysis applied to sustainable organic processes is one of the main research lines of our group. Some of the lines under investigation are:
- Enantioselective reduction of prochiral compounds by supported Pt catalysts.
- Chemoselective hydrogenation of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds into allyl alcohols over supported metal catalysts.
- Hydrogen transfer reduction of carbonyl compounds from alcohols (Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley process) over acid-base catalysts.
Photocatalysis
- Hydrogen production by photocatalytic reforming of biomass-derived oxygenates
- Selective photo-oxidation of organic compounds such as alcohols or aromatic compounds into high added value products.
- Destruction of organic contaminants (e.g. pesticide residues) in water by photocatalysis. Studies are carried out both at Lab scale (UV-Vis lamp and solar simulator) and Pilot plant (50L, sunlight)
Food traceability
Part of our research is carried out within the scopus of the Agrifood Campus of International Excelence (CeiA3), a regional-scale grouping of five universities in Andalusia led by the University of Cordoba. Some of the lines under research are:
- Applications of Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry to agrifood samples in general and, in particular to olive oil traceability (to determine designations of origin and prevent fraud).
- Detection of herbicides in olive oils by solid-phase extraction coupled on-line to HPLC and/or GC-MS.
- Viability study of rapid analytical methods for determining olive oil quality and quantity