Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
Christophe Len
Chimie ParisTech, France
Keynote: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl
The concepts of sustainable development, bio-economy and circular economy are increasingly being applied to the
synthesizing molecules of industrial interest. Among these molecules, furfural as a platform molecule is the subject
of various research approaches to improve its synthesis and productivity and also to extend its transformation for the
production of molecules of interest. Due to the current momentum in promoting green chemistry for sustainable
development, chemists have recently established catalytic reactions based on alternative technologies such as continuous
flow. The present study showed recent break through obtained in the production of furfural, hydroxymethylfuran,
methylfuran, methyl levulinate and γ-valerolactone starting from lignocellulose in the presence of homogeneous catalysts
and heterogeneous catalysts using either batch process or continuous flow process. Various reaction parameters in
dependence of time such as temperature, catalyst and feedstock loadings as well as solvent types have been optimized.
Conception, synthesis and physico-chemical properties will be detailed. Continuous flow transformation of biomass will
pave the way to green chemistry applied to the production of biofuel.
Recent Publications
1. C Len, et al, (2017) Sulfonated Sporopollenin as an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for dehydration
of D-xylose and xylan into furfural. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 5(1):392-398.
2. C Len, et al. (2017) Sustainable pathway to furanics from biomass via heterogeneous organo-catalysis. Green
Chem. 19:164-168.
3. C Len, et al. (2016) Conversion of xylose, xylan and rice husk into furfural via betaine and formic acid mixture
as novel homogeneous catalyst in biphasic system by microwave-assisted dehydration. J. Mol. Catal. A: Chemical
423:520-525.
4. C Len, et al. (2016) Furfural production from D-xylose and xylan by using stable Nafion NR50 and NaCl in a
microwave-assisted biphasic reaction. Molecules 21(8): 1102.
5. C Len, et al. (2015) Microwave-aided dehydration of D-xylose into furfural by diluted inorganic salts solution in
a biphasic system. J. Mol. Catal. Chemical 410:1-7.
Christophe Len is currently a Professor at the Université de Technologie de Compiègne – UTC (France) and he develops his research at Chimie ParisTech, France. His current research explores organic chemistry and catalysis applied to biomass. He has published 170+ original publications. Among recent awards and recognition to his scientific career, he was promoted Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 2015) and was honored with the 2017 Glycerine Innovation Award sponsored by the American Cleaning Institute and the National Biodiesel Board.
E-mail: christophe.len@chimieparistech.psl.eu