Second-generation biomass has been proposed as an alternative way to provide sustainable energy. However, the transformation of biomass into liquid by thermoconversion introduces several drawbacks in the bio-oil. A new approach to convert biomass into a more stable and less polar biocrude compared to fast pyrolysis bio-oil was recently developed, which is based on hydrolysis/functionalization of biomass carbohydrates. This work describes the transformation of sugar cane bagasse and Jatropha curcas cake in biocrude through the acetylation reaction under microwave radiation, in the presence of acetic anhydride and a catalytic amount of sulfuric acid. The reaction conditions were broadly investigated and moderate to complete conversion of the biomasses was achieved; however, Jatropha curcas was more resistant than sugar cane to the hydrolysis/ acetylation reaction. The produced biocrudes were thoroughly characterized, and polyacetylated carbohydrates were the main products identified.

Under the renewable energy context, sugarcane biomass pyrolysis has been growing as a convenient route to produce bio-oil, which can be set into the chemical industry and refineries as building blocks or combustion fuel. In this work sugarcane straw was submitted to direct pyrolysis in a fluidized bed pilot plant at 500˚C, in presence of air. Sugarcane in natura was also pyrolysed as a model for comparison, in order to determine the viability of processing different sources of raw biomass. The physicochemical characterization of the biomass precursors as well as of the bio-oils was also carried out, which points both biomass feedstocks as suitable for bio-oil production in terms of viscosity, surface tension, density and acidity. The bio-oil obtained from sugarcane in natura presented higher carbon and hydrogen content as well as lower oxygen content. On the other hand, the metal content is higher in the bio-oil obtained from sugarcane straw, in special the iron and potassium contents were 807 ppm and 123 ppm against 27 ppm and 1 ppm in the bio-oil from sugarcane in natura. Aliphatic and aromatic compounds as well as carbohydrates scaffolds were identified as the main components of the bio-oil. GC-MS analyses showed aromatic products from lignine fragmentation and free sugars and sugar derivatives.