Title:
Development and Evaluation of an Environmentally Benign Non-derivatizing Pre-treatment Solvent for Fractionation of Corn Cob
Author(s):
Ejekwu, O., Ayeni, A.O., Daramola, M.O.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The unique hetero-matrix structure of lignocellulosic biomass makes it resistant to biological conversion. Therefore, there is a need for improved pre-treatment processes that are able to fractionate lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin for improved overall waste biomass utilization. In this study, series of fractionation experiments using molten hydrate salts: (ZnCl2.4H2O, LiClO4.3H2O,Urea), binary (LiClO4.3H2O/ ZnCl2.4H2O, ZnCl2.4H2O/ Urea, LiClO4.3H2O/Urea) and ternary (LiClO4.3H2O/ ZnCl.4H2O /Urea) as solvent systems were carried out for the pre-treatment of corn cob. Physicochemical changes were analysed in terms of crystallinity (XRD, FTIR), morphology (SEM), and surface chemistry (FTIR). All seven solvent systems developed and evaluated in this study were effective in altering the biomass crystallinity. SEM images reveal a loose and disordered structure of biomass after the pre-treatment. FTIR analysis indicates that MHS-treated biomass exhibited a significant loss of native cellulose crystalline structure. Findings from this study have successfully shown the superior performance of ZnCl2.4H2O/Urea solvent system to pre-treat and fractionate corn cob with good retention of cellulose (approximately100%), appreciablesolubilisation of hemicellulose (42%) and lignin removal (44%) to the other proposed solvent systems. This solvent has the potential to separate hemicellulose and lignin with high purity for value-added co-products, and to reduce the required inputs of energy and chemicals.
Keywords:
biomass, waste, pretreatment
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Biomass feedstock, residues and by-products
Event:
27th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1DV.3.12
Pages:
294 - 298
ISBN:
978-88-89407-19-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/27thEUBCE2019-1DV.3.12
Price:
FREE
