A Glossary of Green Terms Sílvio Vaz Jr., Birgit Kamm, Claudio Mota, Marcelo Domine, German Aroca, Mônica Caramez Triches Damaso, Paulo Marcos Donate, and Roger Sheldon Abstract To achieve an economy based on bioproducts instead of petrochemicals and one that is more sustainable, it is relevant to share scientific knowledge promot- ing the development and application of renewable chemistry. We can observe renew- able molecules obtained from renewable and nonfood sources of biomass for applications such as polymers, solvents, biofuels, bioenergy, and pharmaceuticals. These molecules can be obtained by means of innovative processes that take into account reduction in the generation of residues, energy economy, development and S. Vaz Jr. (*) • M.C.T. Damaso Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, National Research Center for Agroenergy (Embrapa Agroenergy), Embrapa Agroenergia, Parque Estação Biológica, Brasília, DF, Brazil e-mail: [email protected] B. Kamm Brandenburg University of Technology BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH, Linz, Austria C. Mota Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil M. Domine Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científica (UPV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain G. Aroca Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Chile P.M. Donate University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil R. Sheldon Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands Molecular Science Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa © Springer International Publishing AG 2018 221 S. Vaz Jr. (ed.), Biomass and Green Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66736-2 222 A Glossary of Green Terms application of new catalysts and biocatalysts, and improved microorganisms and plants. Thus, a glossary that compiles the terms and significances of this new chemi- cal area has, as its main objective, dissemination of the concept of renewable chemistry. In this glossary were considered contributions from the several areas closely related to the renewable chemistry concept and its application: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and chemical engineering. Keywords Bio-based economy; Biomass; Green chemistry; Renewable resources Abbreviations 1G First generation (for biofuels) 2G Second generation (for biofuels) 3G Third generation (for biofuels) AFEX Ammonia fiber explosion APR Aqueous phase reforming ATP Adenosine triphosphate B100 Biofuel mixture with 100% v/v biodiesel Bio-ETBE Ethyl tert-butyl ether or 2-ethoxy-2-methyl-propane, C6H14O Bio-MTBE Methyl tert-butyl ether or 2-methoxy-2-methyl-propane, C5H12O C5 Pentoses from carbohydrate polymers C6 Hexoses from carbohydrate polymers CDH Cellobiose dehydrogenase CHP Combined heat and power FAME Fatty acid methyl ester FSCW Food supply chain waste GBR Green biorefinery HTS High-throughput screening LCA Life cycle analysis LC-MS Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry LPMO Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase MSW Municipal solid waste NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance PHA Polyhydroxyalkanoate PHB Polyhydroxybutyrate PMO Polysaccharide monooxygenase Acid Pretreatment Process catalyzed by an acid (Brønsted acid or Lewis acid) to promote the separa- tion of lignocellulosic fractions, such as hemicellulose (see Hemicellulose). Sulfuric, hydrochloric, phosphoric, and nitric acids are commonly used. A Glossary of Green Terms 223 Advanced Fuels Liquid fuel derived from sustainable or renewable sources of organic matter (see Organic matter) that do not typically compete with food production, such as agri- cultural wastes (see Waste), forest and wood residues, certain oilseeds, and algae; these produce low CO2 emissions from their use. Aerobic Digestion Digestion process occurring by means of the activity of bacteria and fungi that requires molecular oxygen. This process has a high energy yield (see Yield in bio- technology) obtained when molecular oxygen reacts with organic matter (see Organic matter), releasing heat (e.g., composting). It can be applied to hazardous wastes (see Waste) such as chemical process wastes and landfill leachates, with microorganisms (see Microorganisms) degrading the hazardous molecules. Agricultural Biomass All biomass (see Biomass) generated from crop production in the field, be it soil or an aquatic environment. Agricultural Residues Residues from crop production, such as bagasse (see Bagasse), straw, or liquid effluents. Alternative Fuels Alternative fuels for transportation applications include methanol, denatured etha- nol, and other alcohols; fuel mixtures containing 85% or more by volume of metha- nol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols with gasoline or other fuels; natural gas; liquefied petroleum (see Petroleum) gas (propane); hydrogen; coal-derived liquid fuels; fuels (other than alcohol) derived from biological materials [biofuels (see Biofuels) such as soy diesel fuel]; and electricity [including electricity from solar energy (see Solar energy)]. Alternative Solvents Solvents that have low toxicity, are easy to recycle, are inert, and do not contaminate the product. They are also called green solvents (see Green solvent). Biodegradability, biocompatibility, and sustainability (see Sustainability) are desirable qualities for an alternative solvent. Reference: (Paiva et al. 2014). Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX) Ammonia-based process for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass; AFEX improves the susceptibility of lignocellulosic biomass to enzymatic attack. Amylases Starch-degrading enzymes (see Enzymes) of hexose monomers such as glucose. Anaerobic Digestion Series of biological processes [hydrolysis (see Hydrolysis), acidogenesis, acetogen- esis, and methanogenesis] in which microorganisms (see Microorganisms) convert organic material, in the absence of oxygen, to a mixture of methane (CH4) and 224 A Glossary of Green Terms carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gaseous compounds in small amounts, called biogas (see Biogas), for bioelectricity generation (see Bioelectricity). It produces also a liquid fraction (rich in inorganic species in aqueous medium, which can be precipi- tated) and a solid fraction that when dewatered can be used as a fertilizer (see Fertilizers), depending on its composition. Aqueous Effluent Discharge of liquid waste (see Waste) from a factory, refinery, or biorefinery (see Biorefinery) containing a large proportion of water and other compounds, which commonly must be treated before its disposal. Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) Catalytic process to obtain H2, CO, CO2, and other volatile compounds by means of reforming (see Reforming) in an aqueous medium, normally using supported metal heterogeneous catalysts (see Heterogeneous catalyst). When the process is carried out by feeding reactants at high temperature (>350–400 °C) in the gas-phase sys- tem, it is called steam reforming. Basic Pretreatment Alkaline agents such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and ammonium hydroxides are added in the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass (see Lignocellulosic bio- mass) to release the cellulosic fraction (see Cellulosic fraction). This pretreatment promotes delignification and removal of hemicellulose (see Hemicellulose) from lignocellulosic biomass, allowing, in a later step, the enzymatic hydrolysis (see Hydrolysis) to release sugars. Beyond that, this has the advantage of causing less sugar degradation than acid treatment. Bagasse Fibrous fraction of the sugarcane after juice extraction constituting a lignocellulosic biomass (see Lignocellulosic biomass). It can be used to generate bioelectricity (see Bioelectricity), second-generation ethanol, chemicals, and materials. Bio-Based Economy Model of economy based on the use of renewable sources instead of nonrenewable sources such as petroleum (see Petroleum). In a bio-based economy, renewable resources (see Renewable resources) are used for industrial purposes and energy production, without compromising food and feed provision. Reference: (Hennig et al. 2015) Bio-Based Polymers Polymers (see Polymers) obtained from renewable sources such as sugars, starch, or oleaginous or lignocellulosic biomass. Examples are the ‘green polyethylene’ from sugarcane ethanol, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) produced by a variety of microorganisms (see Microorganisms) as a reserve of carbon and energy. Cellulose is the major natural and bio-based polymer con- stituent of the vegetal cell wall. A Glossary of Green Terms 225 Bio-Based Chemicals Chemicals obtained from renewable sources such as sugars, starch, or oleaginous or lignocellulosic biomass by means of chemocatalytic, biochemical, or thermochemi- cal processes; examples include furfural, succinic acid, and levulinic acid. Biocatalysis Use of enzymes (see Enzymes), isolated or present in whole cells, to promote an increase in the rate of chemical and biochemical reactions to produce, for instance, biofuels (see Biofuels) and chemicals. Biocatalyst Enzyme or a group of enzymes (see Enzymes) consisting of, or derived from, an organism or cell culture (in cell-free or whole-cell forms) that catalyzes metabolic reactions in living organisms or substrate conversions in one or various biochemical reactions. Reference: (PAC 1992a) Biochar Product obtained from fast pyrolysis of biomass, when the biomass is heated quickly (<2 s) to 700 °C in the absence of oxygen, generating