Recent catalysis studies for biomass conversion and plastics recycling and redesign
Dr. Gregg Beckham
National Renewable Energy Lab
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Abstract
Our research group, along with many collaborators, focuses on the development of sustainable processes and products using both chemical and biological catalysis. In this talk, I will review several catalytic processes in the biomass conversion and plastics recycling areas that we are pursuing. First, the valorization of the plant biopolymer lignin remains a major hurdle for cellulosic biorefineries, and our group has focused on both reductive strategies to produce fuels and hybrid processes that use catalytic oxidation followed by biocatalysis to produce chemicals, which will be covered. Additionally, in the BOTTLE Consortium (www.bottle.org), we are developing catalytic strategies for the synthesis of bio-based monomers that can be used in circular polymers, which will be reviewed.
Bio
Gregg T. Beckham is a Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader at NREL. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering at MIT. He currently leads and works with an interdisciplinary team at NREL on the development of sustainable processes and products in the areas of biomass conversion, plastics recycling and redesign, and microbial protein production.
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