PRIN LEVANTE (DCM.AD004.161)

Thematic area

Chemical sciences and materials technology

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC)

Project manager

NICOLA SCOTTI
Phone number: 3389974940
Email: nicola.scotti@scitec.cnr.it

Abstract

The project LEVANTE deals with the development of new catalytic processes for the valorization of one of the top-12 bio-based building block, levulinic acid (LA) and its esters (LE). These compounds derive directly from lignocellulose, that is the most abundant non-food, waste biopolymer, thus being, the most promising feedstock to meet the criteria of a more sustainable circular economy.

Goals

The expected outcomes of the LEVANTE project are listed below:
- development of new family of performant and stable non-noble metal heterogeneous catalysts, including biomass-derived systems, for the transformation of LA/LE in a series of valuable-added products, ketals, DPA,
GVL-RP;
- creation of a new pool of scientific knowledge in terms of reaction mechanisms and structure-activity relationships;
- development of continuous flow reactors for the efficient and economical valuable transformation of LA/LE;
- preparation of booklets containing all the key information regarding the optimized processes (LCA, productivity) in order to strengthen the ongoing industrial collaborations and to create new ones with the aim of
implement our procedures at a larger scale;
- scientific publications (review, article, monography, book chapter);
- patents (novel processes, novel catalysts);
- dissemination through dedicated workshops and physical and digital materials;
- presentation of the results of LEVANTE project at international and national conferences.

Start date of activity

01/03/2022

Keywords

chimica sostenibile, acido levulinico, catalisi eterogenea

Last update: 05/06/2025