The production of chemicals and fuels from lignocellulosic biomass requires pretreatment of the biomass prior to conversion into bioalcohols or other chemicals. The pretreatment usually breaks down the hemicellulose and lignin biomass components to yield a relatively pure cellulose fraction. The lignin fraction has been investigated for various potential uses, whereas little attention has been directed toward the hemicellulose fraction. The goal of this project is the valorization of hemicellulose hydrolyzates to eco-friendly surfactants. To obtain relatively pure hydrolyzates with little lignin contamination, hybrid poplar was treated in a pressure reactor with dilute sulfuric acid at different temperatures and acid levels and for different runtimes. The hydrolyzate compositions were analyzed by ion chromatography and <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that a) an acid level of at least 0.15 M is required for reproducible results and b) a lower run temperature (130 versus 150 °C) and shorter run time (90 versus 120 min) results in a lower glucose concentration (&lt; 2 g/L versus &gt; 6 g/L) in the hydrolyzate, possibly as a result of decreased cellulose degradation.

Effect of process parameters on the composition of hemicellulose hydrolyzates from dilute sulfuric acid treatment of hybrid poplar

2019 Spring National Meeting

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