Renewable cellulose and lignin are abundant and available as the sustainable feedstock of the future for next generation chemicals and materials. In the Dauenhauer laboratory, research has focused on the relationships between catalyst design and development, process design and optimization, and laboratory-to-market strategy to create new markets for biochemicals and biomaterials. Three parallel examples outline the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass to create economic value in the fields of surfactants, acrylics and acrylates, and general carbon products such as carbon co-feeds or carbon credits. Examples are presented in the context of general strategy to pursue business opportunities competitive with conventional processes based on fossil fuels including identification of potential new chemical businesses, evaluation of biomass supply potential, and optimization of the expansive number of parameters required to create a successful commercial chemical and materials business.
