Title:
Arundo Donax Refining for the Production of Second Generation Bioethanol and Furfural
Author(s):
De Bari, I., Liuzzi, F., Ambrico, A., Trupo, M., Villone, A., Braccio, G.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Biomass-derived sugars are platform molecules that can be used for a number of applications. In the biofuels-driven biorefineries, C6 sugars can be fermented to ethanol or butanol. C5 sugars can also be fermented by means of genetically modified microorganisms able to withstand at industrially relevant conditions. As alternative, they can be converted to chemicals, such as furfural, which is considered a platform molecule for the synthesis of numerous products. In the present paper two Arundo donax biorefining options are presented: the production of mixed hydrolyzates for alcoholic fermentation; the separate conversion of C6 and C5 sugars to ethanol and furfural (FA) respectively. Acid-catalysed steam explosion was used for biomass pretreatment and fractionation. A number of process conditions were tested for achieving the highest ethanol concentration and the highest xylose conversion at mild conditions. In particular, hemicellulose derived xylose was dehydrated to furfural in biphasic media by microwave energy. Amberlyst 15 was used as solid acid catalyst. The results indicate that after 10 minutes of microwave heating at 150°C the conversion of xylose to furfural was around 48% of the theoretical value. Part of the research presented in the present paper was funded by the European Project Biolyfe.
Keywords:
bioethanol, biorefinery, steam explosion, green chemistry
Topic:
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Intermediates, Liquid and Gaseous Fuels, Chemicals and Materials
Subtopic:
Biorefineries and chemicals production
Event:
22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3BV.3.36
Pages:
1099 - 1103
ISBN:
978-88-89407-52-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-3BV.3.36
Price:
FREE
