Process systems engineering studies for catalytic production of bio-based platform molecules from lignocellulosic biomass

•A process-systems engineering study for production of bio-based platform molecules to is presented.•Experimentally verified catalysis studies for biomass conversion are investigated.•New separations for effective recovery of bio-based platform molecules are developed.•Separations are integrated with catalytic biomass conversions.•Proposed process can compete economically with the current production approaches.