Production Of Renewable Chemicals Research Articles

Lignin conversion into C4 dicarboxylic acids by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation using titanium silicalite-1

Lignin valorisation towards added-value products has become a relevant topic to consolidate a future circular bioeconomy. In this context lignin oxidation to C4 dicarboxylic acids (C4-DCA) by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation is emerging as a value-added strategy, supported by the extensive use of these building blocks in several industrial fields. In this work, lignins from different sources and processes (Indulin AT, Lignol, alkali and E. globulus kraft lignins) were oxidised using H2O2 and titanium silicalite-1 catalyst (TS-1) under different operating conditions (temperature, pH, time, H2O2, and TS-1 load). Indulin AT was the lignin leading to the highest succinic acid yield (11.3 wt%), and TS-1 catalyst enhanced its production four times over the non-catalysed reaction. Malic acid was also produced at high yields, especially for Lignol lignin. The other lignins (E. globulus kraft, and alkali lignins) also produced these C4 acids but at lower yields. The catalyst remained stable at the used experimental conditions, and showed potential to be reused for several cycles without being deactivated. Overall, the catalytic conversion of lignin to C4-DCA can help to guide the pathway to renewable chemicals production.

Experimental and Theoretical Insights into the Active Sites on WOx/Pt(111) Surfaces for Dehydrogenation and Dehydration Reactions

The catalytic upgrading of biomass is an important step toward realizing renewable chemical production. Pt/WOx and the inverse catalyst, WOx/Pt, have been shown to be highly active and selective for the C–O bond scission of various biomass-derived oxygenates. Yet, the nature of the active sites and detailed reaction mechanisms have not been well understood. In this study, carbon monoxide and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) have been used as probe molecules to study the active sites of WOx/Pt(111) model surfaces. Temperature-programmed desorption experiments identified two distinct active sites responsible for different reaction pathways: dehydrogenation over Pt sites and dehydration over WOx sites. High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) identified the surface reaction intermediates. In situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and HREELS measurements confirmed the presence of hydroxyl groups on WOx, which were consumed upon the adsorption of IPA, suggesting that the hydroxyl groups were the active sites for IPA dehydration. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further revealed the reaction mechanisms and activation barriers of the IPA dehydrogenation and dehydration reactions. The comparison of different in situ-generated hydroxyl groups on WOx by DFT calculations suggested that the most active sites for dehydration should be those with protons least strongly bound (site formation energy of −0.3 eV), with a dehydration activation barrier of 1.23 eV. The understanding from this study provides insights into the design of relevant metal/metal oxide catalysts for the upgrading of biomass-derived oxygenates.

Computational Enzyme Engineering Pipelines for Optimized Production of Renewable Chemicals

To enable a sustainable supply of chemicals, novel biotechnological solutions are required that replace the reliance on fossil resources. One potential solution is to utilize tailored biosynthetic modules for the metabolic conversion of CO2 or organic waste to chemicals and fuel by microorganisms. Currently, it is challenging to commercialize biotechnological processes for renewable chemical biomanufacturing because of a lack of highly active and specific biocatalysts. As experimental methods to engineer biocatalysts are time- and cost-intensive, it is important to establish efficient and reliable computational tools that can speed up the identification or optimization of selective, highly active, and stable enzyme variants for utilization in the biotechnological industry. Here, we review and suggest combinations of effective state-of-the-art software and online tools available for computational enzyme engineering pipelines to optimize metabolic pathways for the biosynthesis of renewable chemicals. Using examples relevant for biotechnology, we explain the underlying principles of enzyme engineering and design and illuminate future directions for automated optimization of biocatalysts for the assembly of synthetic metabolic pathways.

Mild Synthesis of Cyclohexanol and Cyclohexanone Via Electrocatalytic Reduction of Phenols Using Dispersed Metal Catalysts

Cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone are industrially important chemicals for the synthesis of Nylon polymers. On the industrial scale, they are produced by thermocatalytic processes, either phenol hydrogenation (140–170 oC, 1 atm) or cyclohexane oxidation (140–180 oC, 0.8–2 MPa), which require high temperatures and external gas supply. This work demonstrates that electrosynthesis of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone can be done at mild conditions using diverse aqueous electrolytes and dispersed metal catalysts (Pt/C, Ru/C, and Pd/C).Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of lignin-derived phenols (e.g., guaiacol and phenol) is performed in a stirred slurry H-cell under potentiostatic or galvanostatic control. Dilute mineral acid (H2SO4, HClO4), organic acid (CH4SO3), and inorganic salt (NaCl) worked efficiently as the electrolyte solutions. In the ECH of guaiacol at low temperatures (35–40 oC) and low Pt/C loading, high guaiacol conversions (83–96%) and Faradaic efficiencies (40–70%) were achieved with significant cyclohexanol selectivities (45–53%) after 4 h reactions. In the ECH of phenol, full conversion to cyclohexanol was achieved after 2 h with high current efficiency (90%). Remarkably, by pairing the NaCl catholyte and H2SO4 anolyte, the activity of Ru/C and Pd/C can be dramatically improved, showing the importance of electrocatalyst and electrolyte synergy in the ECH of phenolic compounds.The stirred slurry catalyst allows the cell to operate at the industrially relevant current densities (in this work, between 100–300 mA cm-2). Dispersion of the negatively charged catalyst particles in the solution also facilitates the mass transfer between the organic molecules and chemisorbed hydrogens through physical collisions during the reaction, thereby improving the ECH efficiency. Mild electrocatalytic reduction of phenolic compounds represents a promising route for selective and efficient production of renewable chemicals from biomass.

A microalgal-based preparation with synergistic cellulolytic and detoxifying action towards chemical-treated lignocellulose.

SummaryHigh‐temperature bioconversion of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars has drawn attention for efficient production of renewable chemicals and biofuels, because competing microbial activities are inhibited at elevated temperatures and thermostable cell wall degrading enzymes are superior to mesophilic enzymes. Here, we report on the development of a platform to produce four different thermostable cell wall degrading enzymes in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The enzyme blend was composed of the cellobiohydrolase CBM3GH5 from C. saccharolyticus, the β‐glucosidase celB from P. furiosus, the endoglucanase B and the endoxylanase XynA from T. neapolitana. In addition, transplastomic microalgae were engineered for the expression of phosphite dehydrogenase D from Pseudomonas stutzeri, allowing for growth in non‐axenic media by selective phosphite nutrition. The cellulolytic blend composed of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) domain GH12/GH5/GH1 allowed the conversion of alkaline‐treated lignocellulose into glucose with efficiencies ranging from 14% to 17% upon 48h of reaction and an enzyme loading of 0.05% (w/w). Hydrolysates from treated cellulosic materials with extracts of transgenic microalgae boosted both the biogas production by methanogenic bacteria and the mixotrophic growth of the oleaginous microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Notably, microalgal treatment suppressed the detrimental effect of inhibitory by‐products released from the alkaline treatment of biomass, thus allowing for efficient assimilation of lignocellulose‐derived sugars by C. vulgaris under mixotrophic growth.

Biofuels and renewable chemicals production by catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose: a review

The rise of consumption of traditional fossil fuels has caused emissions of greenhouse gas and deterioration of air quality. Biomass is a promising substitute for fossil fuels because biomass provides biofuels and chemicals by thermochemical conversion such as pyrolysis. In particular, fast pyrolysis of biomass cellulose into chemicals and biofuels has recently drawn attention. Issues of commercialization of fast pyrolysis products include low heating value, low stability, and high oxygen content and acidity. Consequently, new catalysts for enhanced cellulose conversion are sought for. Here, we review the production of biofuel and renewable chemicals from cellulose pyrolysis using acidic and basic catalysts. Acidic catalysts are more suitable to produce biofuels containing about 50% aromatic hydrocarbons, compared to basic catalysts which give biofuels containing 15% aromatic hydrocarbons. Basic catalysts are preferred to produce renewables chemicals, particularly ketone compounds. We explain the mechanism of cellulose pyrolysis with acidic and basic catalysts. The strong acid sites on the catalyst facilitate high selectivity for aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil, whereas basic active sites induce double-bond migration, increase carbon-coupling reactions, and ketone production.

Integrated Process for the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass: From Biomass Fractionation and Characterization to Chemocatalytic Conversion with Lanthanum(III) Triflate

The development of green processes for the production of renewable chemicals from biomass is required to respond to environmental issues. Herein, we report an integrated process for the production ...

Pyrolysis of fatty acids derived from hydrolysis of brown grease with biosolids

The escalating generation of biosolids and increasing regulations regarding their safe handling and disposal have created a great environmental challenge. Recently, biosolids have been incorporated into the hydrolysis step of a two-step thermal lipid conversion process to act as water replacement in the production of renewable chemicals and fuels. Here, the hexane extract recovered from hydrolysis of biosolids, lipids from brown grease hydrolyzed using either water (control) or biosolids as a water replacement, was pyrolyzed at 410–450 °C for 2 h. The product distribution and composition were not significantly different when biosolids were used to hydrolyze brown grease instead of water. The liquid product consisted mainly of alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, and cyclic compounds similar to those in petroleum-derived liquid fuels. However, the use of biosolids as a water substitute resulted in a significant increase in sulphur content of the pyrolysate, which will necessitate processes to reduce the sulphur content before or after pyrolysis. Nevertheless, the pathways proposed in this paper are considered as potentially economically viable approaches to not only resolve the issues associated with disposal of biosolids but also to produce renewable hydrocarbons for fuel and chemical applications.Graphical abstract

Silica supported Sn catalysts with tetrahedral Sn sites for selective isomerization of glucose to fructose

Lewis acid catalyzed isomerization of glucose to fructose is an important reaction for production of renewable chemicals. Here, we show the synthesis of an active and selective Lewis acid catalyst for this reaction by controlling Sn dispersion on SBA15. Sn loading of 1 wt. % over SBA15 (Sn/SBA15) maximized the formation of tetrahedral Sn species on the catalyst surface. Increasing the loading or changing support caused formation of SnO2 clusters which reduced fructose selectivity. A mechanism based on condensation of Sn with silanol group of SBA15 is proposed. The catalyst showed high selectivity of 93 % after 2 h with 57 % fructose yield. The Lewis acid catalyzed isomerization of glucose was proven by isotopic tracer study using d-glucose-2-d. The catalyst deactivated in the third cycle owing to byproduct deposition, but the activity was restored by recalcining the catalyst.

Sulfonic Acid Anchored Heterogeneous Acid‐Catalyst DICAT‐3 for Conversion of Xylose into Furfural in Biphasic Solvent System

AbstractFurfural is most exigent biomass‐derived furanic molecule used for the production of renewable chemicals, fuels and polymers. In the present study, a series of sulfonic acid anchored heterogeneous catalysts (DICAT‐3) were synthesized for cyclodehydration of xylose into furfural in a biphasic solvent. The profound effect of catalyst backbone, solvent and reaction conditions were witnessed. Xylose dehydration in the presence of DICAT‐3 in the toluene/water biphasic solvent system provides high yield and conversion. The use of the biphasic solvent system in presence of DICAT‐3 offers ease of product and catalyst separation, respectively. Furthermore, the process intensification study was performed for the influence of reaction parameters on furfural yield and xylose conversion. Under optimized reaction conditions DICAT‐3 gave > 88% furfural yield with >99% of xylose conversion at 120 °C in toluene/water. The structural and surface morphological features of DICAT‐3 were investigated by FTIR, SEM/EDX, XRF and TGA analysis. The DICAT‐3 was tested for five consecutive recycle runs and it shows the consistent performance for xylose conversion and furfural yield without loss of catalytic activity. The exploration of DICAT‐3 offers specific advantages such as robust and recyclable catalysts, ease of product separation and non‐stringent reaction conditions with high yield. Thus, the reported process provides a platform for the development of a sustainable and economically viable process.

Bioderivatization as a concept for renewable production of chemicals that are toxic or poorly soluble in the liquid phase

Bio-based production technologies may complement or replace petroleum-based production of chemicals, but they face a number of technical challenges, including product toxicity and/or water insolubility. Plants and microorganisms naturally biosynthesize chemicals that often are converted into derivatives with reduced toxicity or enhanced solubility. Inspired by this principle, we propose a bioderivatization strategy for biotechnological chemicals production, defined as purposeful biochemical derivatization of intended target molecules. As proof of principle, the effects of hydrophobic (e.g., esterification) and hydrophilic (e.g., glycosylation) bioderivatization strategies on the biosynthesis of a relatively toxic and poorly soluble chemical, 1-octanol, were evaluated in Escherichia coli and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The 1-octanol pathway was first optimized to reach product titers at which the host displayed symptoms of toxicity. Solvent overlay used to capture volatile products partially masked product toxicity. Regardless of whether solvent overlay was used, most strains with bioderivatization had a higher molar product titer and product yield, as well as improved cellular growth and glucose consumption, compared with strains without bioderivatization. The positive effect on bioproduction was observed with both the hydrophobic and hydrophilic strategies. Interestingly, in several combinations of genotype/induction strength, bioderivatization had a positive effect on productivity without any apparent effect on growth. We attribute this to enhanced product solubility in the aqueous or solvent fraction of the bioreactor liquid phase (depending on the derivative and medium used), with consequent enhanced product removal. Overall, under most conditions, a benefit of bioproduction was observed, and the bioderivatization strategy could be considered for other similar chemicals as well.

Engineering the PduT shell protein to modify the permeability of the 1,2-propanediol microcompartment of Salmonella.

Bacterial microcompartments (MCPs) are protein-based organelles that consist of metabolic enzymes encapsulated within a protein shell. The function of MCPs is to optimize metabolic pathways by increasing reaction rates and sequestering toxic pathway intermediates. A substantial amount of effort has been directed toward engineering synthetic MCPs as intracellular nanoreactors for the improved production of renewable chemicals. A key challenge in this area is engineering protein shells that allow the entry of desired substrates. In this study, we used site-directed mutagenesis of the PduT shell protein to remove its central iron-sulfur cluster and create openings (pores) in the shell of the Pdu MCP that have varied chemical properties. Subsequently, in vivo and in vitro studies were used to show that PduT-C38S and PduT-C38A variants increased the diffusion of 1,2-propanediol, propionaldehyde, NAD+ and NADH across the shell of the MCP. In contrast, PduT-C38I and PduT-C38W eliminated the iron-sulfur cluster without altering the permeability of the Pdu MCP, suggesting that the side-chains of C38I and C38W occluded the opening formed by removal of the iron-sulfur cluster. Thus, genetic modification offers an approach to engineering the movement of larger molecules (such as NAD/H) across MCP shells, as well as a method for blocking transport through trimeric bacterial microcompartment (BMC) domain shell proteins.

Comparative investigation of homogeneous and heterogeneous Brønsted base catalysts for the isomerization of glucose to fructose in aqueous media

Glucose isomerization to fructose via Brønsted base catalysis is sparking increasing interest due to the importance of fructose as a feedstock molecule for the production of renewable chemicals. The work reported here stems from an interest in understanding the key parameters governing glucose isomerization in addition to solution basicity, and in identifying catalyst features that are key to fructose selectivity. A wide range of homogeneous and heterogeneous Brønsted bases were investigated under identical reaction conditions to enable their cross comparison. The results showed that glucose conversion was positively correlated with the basicity of the solution, although exceptional cases were observed owing to the specific structure of that catalyst. Interactions between the cations associated with metal hydroxide catalysts and carbohydrates affected the isomerization of glucose. Likewise, cations formed through protonation of organic catalysts in water (e.g. amines) were shown to alter the glucose isomerization process and impact both conversion and selectivity under iso-pH conditions. Principal component analysis revealed that the catalytic patterns were dependent on the catalyst nature and structure. Overall, meglumine showed a superior catalytic performance compared to other homogeneous bases with a yield of 35% fructose and approximately 80% selectivity. These results obtained under identical experimental conditions will help to identify promising catalyst structures for future heterogeneous catalyst design.

Removal of catalyst poisons for the production of sugar alcohols from a real biomass molasses using a heterogeneous Ni catalyst

Molasses is an abundant biomass waste that remains after the manufacture of sucrose in sugar industries. This material still contains a large amount of sucrose, which is an attractive feedstock for the production of renewable chemicals. However, such real biomass often contains impurities that work as catalyst poisons in the chemical conversion, and thus the study on the effect of catalyst poisons and their removal is crucial to establish biorefinery. Herein, we report the pretreatment and catalytic conversion of sugarcane molasses to synthesize sugar alcohols (sorbitol and mannitol) that are versatile precursors to chemicals. In the adsorption pretreatment of molasses, Montmorillonite K10 selectively reduced organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds with no adsorption of sugars. Pristine molasses gives a low yield of sugar alcohols with low selectivity in the presence of a sponge nickel catalyst, but the pretreated sample provides up to 84% yield after optimization of reaction conditions. The correlation between the content of impurities and hydrogenation activity, controlled experiments, and density functional theory calculations show that organosulfur compounds are the main catalyst poisons due to the strong adsorption on nickel by the electron donation from S 3s3p hybrid orbitals to Ni unoccupied ones predominantly consisting of 4p.

A techno-economic-environmental study evaluating the potential of oxygen-steam biomass gasification for the generation of value-added products

The production of renewable chemicals and fuels is driving modern society towards a type of sustainable development which involves a decreasing dependency on fossil fuels and the minimisation of waste. Biomass, a waste by-product from the urban environment, is a carbon dioxide neutral organic fuel that can potentially serve as a feedstock for the production of sustainable power and heat. Gasification is preferred over the other thermal conversion options for biomass processing whereby the product synthesis gas can be utilised to power generators/turbines and generate clean energy, ammonia and methanol. Incidentally, efficient and economically sound biomass driven supply chains can be integrated into an existing petrochemical infrastructure. Moreover, the potential production volumes of fuels and green chemicals can also be increased by the addition of multiple biomass sources, thereby creating potential positive scale effects. This study proposes a new poly-generation process that utilises multiple sources of biomass feedstock to produce high quality urea, methanol, Fisher-Tropsch liquids and power. Four flowsheet configurations are simulated using Aspen Plus software and the built-in capabilities of the activated analysis using Aspen Process Economic Analyzer and Aspen Energy Analyzer to perform the economic, energy and environmental impact calculations. The results demonstrate that the methanol production technique is the most economic process pathway with a net profit of approximately $0.035 per kg of biomass input, whilst the urea process pathway presents the lowest environmental impact solution with approximately 0.71 kg of CO2-e per kg of biomass input. These results are relative and can be analysed from different perspectives based on the market demand of the products and their applications and local need. For instance, considering at the economic and environmental indicators relative to the production capacity, production of liquid fuels achieve net profits of approximately $0.27 per kg of product, whilst urea production demonstrates the lowest environmental emissions of approximately 3.93 kg of CO2-e per kg of product.

In-situ synthesis of single-atom Ir by utilizing metal-organic frameworks: An acid-resistant catalyst for hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone

The hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) is a key reaction for the production of renewable chemicals and fuels, wherein acid-resistant and robust catalysts are highly desired for practical usage. Herein, an ultra-stable 0.6 wt% Ir@ZrO2@C single-atom catalyst was prepared via an in-situ synthesis approach during the assembly of UiO-66, followed by confined pyrolysis. The Ir@ZrO2@C offered not only a quantitative LA conversion and an excellent GVL selectivity (>99%), but also an unprecedented stability during recycling runs under harsh conditions (at T = 453 K, PH2 = 40 bar in pH = 3 or pH = 1 aqueous solution). By thorough spectroscopy characterizations, a well-defined structure of atomically dispersed Irδ+ atoms onto nano-tetragonal ZrO2 confined in the amorphous carbon was identified for the Ir@ZrO2@C. The strong metal-support interaction and the confinement of the amorphous carbon account for the ultra-stability of the Ir@ZrO2@C.

Co-liquefaction of Macroalgae with Common Marine Plastic Pollutants

Macroalgal blooms are environmentally problematic and costly to remediate, but they also represent a vast untapped resource for the production of renewable chemicals and fuels. The responsible exploitation of such marine resources will become increasingly prominent in the transition away from the crude oil economy that currently dominates global productivity. However, crude oil-derived plastic pollution is now a ubiquitous presence in the marine environment, which hampers the effective conversion of marine feedstocks. If the full potential of macroalgae is to be realized, any large-scale industrial process will need to accommodate the presence of this plastic. This study, for the first time, aimed to assess the effect of several common marine plastic pollutants on the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of four UK macroalgae species and determine the impact on the major HTL products and biocrude oil quality. Co-liquefaction of polyethylene and polypropylene with L. digitata, U. lactuca, F. serratus, and S. mu...

Linkage Abundance and Molecular Weight Characteristics of Technical Lignins by Attenuated Total Reflection-FTIR Spectroscopy Combined with Multivariate Analysis.

Lignin is an attractive material for the production of renewable chemicals, materials and energy. However, utilization is hampered by its highly complex and variable chemical structure, which requires an extensive suite of analytical instruments to characterize. Here, we demonstrate that straightforward attenuated total reflection (ATR)‐FTIR analysis combined with principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) modelling can provide remarkable insight into the structure of technical lignins, giving quantitative results that are comparable to standard gel‐permeation chromatography (GPC) and 2D heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR methods. First, a calibration set of 54 different technical (fractionated) lignin samples, covering kraft, soda and organosolv processes, were prepared and analyzed using traditional GPC and NMR methods, as well as by readily accessible ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. PLS models correlating the ATR‐FTIR spectra of the broad set of lignins with GPC and NMR measurements were found to have excellent coefficients of determination (R 2 Cal.>0.85) for molecular weight (M n, M w) and inter‐unit abundances (β‐O‐4, β‐5 and β‐β), with low relative errors (6.2–14 %) as estimated from cross‐validation results. PLS analysis of a second set of 28 samples containing exclusively (fractionated) kraft lignins showed further improved prediction ability, with relative errors of 3.8–13 %, and the resulting model could predict the structural characteristics of an independent validation set of lignins with good accuracy. The results highlight the potential utility of this methodology for streamlining and expediting the often complex and time consuming technical lignin characterization process.

Selective hemicellulose hydrolysis of Scots pine sawdust

The depletion of fossil resources is driving forward the search for new and alternative renewable feedstocks in the production of renewable chemicals, which could replace the petroleum-based ones. One such feedstock is pine (Pinus sylvestris) sawdust, which is generated enormous amounts in Finnish sawmills yearly. However, prior to the utilization in high-value applications, it needs to be fractionated into its constituents. In this work, the objective was to produce monomeric hemicellulose sugars from pine sawdust without degrading cellulose or lignin simultaneously. The influence of the reaction temperature and time, as well as acid type and concentration, was studied. Based on the results, the temperature was the main distinguishing feature between cellulose and hemicellulose hydrolysis. Promising results were achieved with acid mixtures consisting of 0.5% sulfuric acid and 5.5 or 10% formic acid. At 120 °C with the reaction time of 2 h, the mixtures produced hemicellulose sugars with the yields of 62%. These yields were comparable to the yields achieved in similar conditions with 1.5% sulfuric acid or 40% formic acid. Therefore, by using an acid mixture, the concentration of a single acid could be reduced significantly. The solid fractions remaining after the hydrolysis consisted mainly of cellulose and lignin, which verified the selectivity of the hemicellulose hydrolysis. Also, the fractionation of the remaining solids confirmed that the utilization of all the sawdust components is feasible.

Chemoselective Lactonization of Renewable Succinic Acid with Heterogeneous Nanoparticle Catalysts

The production of chemicals from renewable resources, resulting in the establishment of biorefineries, represents a challenge of increasing importance. Here we show that succinic acid, a C4 compound increasingly being produced on a kiloton scale by the microbial fermentation of sugar, can be selectively converted into a variety of important chemicals. Optimal performance in terms of activity, selectivity and reusability is observed with Al2O3-supported Pd nanoparticles, which mediate the selective, hydrogenative lactonization of succinic acid to γ-butyrolactone at >90% selectivity, even at high levels of conversion (<70%). Through a variety of kinetic, spectroscopic and microscopic studies, preliminary structure–activity relationships are presented, and the roles of the reaction conditions, the choice of metal and the nature of the support in terms of guiding the overall process selectivity, are also investigated. On a broader level, these studies demonstrate the suitability of succinic acid to act as a platform for renewable chemical production in future biorefineries.