Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making compositions comprising mixtures of lactones. Also provided herein are mixtures of lactones produced by the methods provided herein. An example lactone composition can include a 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid-?-lactone, a 3,5-dihydroxydecanoic acid-?-lactone, and sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, aluminum, silicon, organic chloride, 3,5-dihydroxydecanoic acid, a carbohydrate, free fatty acids, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making sustainable fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha from low carbon intensity sources, such as mixtures of lactones and bio-oils.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making acetonitrile from biologically produced precursors. The methods herein may be less carbon intensive and produce fewer toxic byproducts than traditional methods. Also provided herein are acetonitrile compositions, such as prepared by the methods provided herein.

Abstract: Lithium (Li) is a key element for clean energy technologies, and, accordingly, the global lithium demand has been increasing rapidly. Therefore, to meet the Li demand and keep supply chains stable, it is critical to develop efficient lithium extraction technologies that allow exploitation of unconventional lithium resources, such as geothermal brines and inland brine streams. However, the recovery of Li from these resources is challenging due to low Li concentration and high Li/Na, Li/Mg, or Li/Ca ratios. Disclosed herein are novel Zwitterionic Chromatography resins and methods of use for separating Li from salts and other ions.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an optimized, energy-efficient, and sustainable solution for continuous in situ bio-based chemical recovery by integrating high pressure reverse osmosis with extraction processes. These systems achieve higher recovery efficiency while reducing production costs and environmental impact.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes utilizing a microorganism for the converting of a substrate to an acid contained in a mixture that includes the acid and water, maintaining a pH of the mixture to less than 5, and treating the mixture with a first stream comprising an organic.

Abstract: The processes disclosed herein for separation of glucaric acid via antisolvent crystallization and azeotropic drying separate monopotassium glucarate and glucaric acid with a recovery yield of greater than 99.9% and 71% at purities of about 95.6% and 98.3%, respectively. Processes disclosed herein recycle antisolvents such as IPA and acetone with greater than 99% recovery with an energy consumption of about 20 MJ/kg for isolation of potassium glucarate and 1,456 MJ/kg for glucaric acid. Using methods and processes disclosed herein, other oxygenated bio-carboxylic acids (e.g., mevalonic acid) can be separated and recovered from fermentation broths and abiotic reaction solutions.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes polymerizing a nitrile with an acrylate ester to form a copolymer, in a mixture that includes water and an alcohol (R2—OH), according to the following reaction where R1 includes at least one of a first aliphatic group or hydrogen, R2 comprises at least one of a second aliphatic group or hydrogen, 100?m?4000, and 1?n?4000. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mixture may be an emulsion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the hybrid thermal-chromatograph systems described herein solve the co-product generation problem associated with seawater desalination, and result in significant reduction in the selling price of fresh water generated through the process, while also solving problems associated with traditional lithium mining practices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of target bio-base carboxylic acid products using a sorption-based technology with a mixed elution solvent optimized for minimized downstream distillation energy input. The sorption-based technology includes absorbing the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products onto a non-ionic resin and eluting the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products with a mixed elution solvent. The mixed elution solvent includes a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent has a boiling point that is lower than the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products and the second solvent is selected from the group consisting of a phosphine oxide or tertiary amine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes utilizing a microorganism for the converting of a substrate to an acid contained in a mixture that includes the acid and water, maintaining a pH of the mixture to less than 5, and treating the mixture with a first stream comprising an organic.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of target bio-based products using a sorption-based technology with a mixed elution solvent optimized for minimized downstream distillation energy input.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes polymerizing a nitrile with an acrylate ester to form a copolymer, in a mixture that includes water and an alcohol (R2—OH), according to the following reaction where R1 includes at least one of a first aliphatic group or hydrogen, R2 comprises at least one of a second aliphatic group or hydrogen, 100?m?4000, and 1?n?4000. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mixture may be an emulsion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the production of fuels, chemicals, or materials from biomass-derived lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Also provided are methods for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from lignocellulosic biomass and the subsequent thermal and catalytic conversion of polyhydroxyalkanoates to hydrocarbons. In addition, methods for the production of ethanol from the fermentation of polysaccharides are described.