Green Chemistry @ MUN

The first paper from Khaled’s PhD research has been accepted for publication by Green Chemistry.

It is called “Hydrolysis of Chitosan Into Levulinic Acid and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural In Water Under Microwave Irradiation”

It describes our first efforts at converting biopolymers that can be obtained from fishery waste into potentially useful small molecules. This proof of concept will hopefully lead to these natural materials being used alongside agricultural and forestry wastes as the starting point for chemicals with a wide range of purposes including, fuels, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.

Some of the results were obtained in collaboration with Jessica Besaw (NSERC USRA 2010, Kerton group) who Khaled acted as mentor to.  Congratulations Khaled and Jess!

Aminopolysaccharides (Chitin) are available in the shells of crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, shrimps). Khaled has shown that valuable 'Platform' chemicals can be made from them

Green Chem., DOI:10.1039/C2GC35048C

http://xlink.rsc.org/?doi=C2GC35048C

Comment by greenchem March 30, 2012 @ 9:57 am

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