First publication on FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate from the D-carbonize project
First publication on FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate from the D-carbonize project
We are pleased to announce the publication of the first PhD article from Giovanni Berluti, PhD student within the D-carbonize project, now published in Green Chemistry (Royal Society of Chemistry), focusing on the FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate.
The study, developed in collaboration between the University of Groningen (Netherlands), including the Chemical Engineering Group (ENTEG) and the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, brings together complementary expertise in catalysis, green chemistry, and polymer science to advance the valorisation of renewable platform molecules such as FDCA.
The study addresses the valorisation of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), widely recognised as a promising renewable platform molecule. Despite its strong potential, the industrial use of FDCA has historically been limited. With the recent scale-up of FDCA production, new opportunities are emerging for the development of advanced bio-based chemicals such as the FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate.
In this work, the authors report the synthesis of an FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate derived from renewable feedstocks through an innovative catalytic approach. The resulting molecule, featuring two cyclic carbonate functionalities, represents a valuable intermediate for sustainable polymer design.
Key contributions of the study include:
- Development of a novel catalytic route
- Thermodynamic analysis of the reaction system
- Optimisation of solvent-free reaction conditions for FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate formation
- Preliminary scalability assessment of the FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate process
The FDCA bis-cyclic carbonate developed in this work shows strong potential for replacing hazardous CMR substances currently used in polyurethane and polycarbonate production, contributing to safer and more sustainable materials.
Overall, this collaborative research demonstrates an important step forward in the transformation of renewable building blocks into high-value polymer precursors.
This publication marks a key milestone for the D-carbonize project and strengthens ongoing efforts to advance the next generation of sustainable chemistry solutions.