Solvent Effects on Liquefaction: Solubilization Profiles of a Tropical Prototype Wood, Eucalyptus, in the Presence of Simple Alcohols, Ethylene Glycol, Water and Phenols

Abstract

This paper discusses the solubilization profiles of holocellulose during aqueous and solvolytic liquefaction of Eucalyptus. We have found that by an appropriate choice of solvent a selective separation of the wood components can be achieved. Operational zones of selective solubilization can thus be defined.

Solvent effects on liquefaction: Solubilization profiles of a canadian prototype wood, populus deltoides, in the presence of different solvents

“…The present study is an extension of our previous work with Eucalyptus suligna (Heitz et al, 1988) and has as objective the determination of (a) the solubilization profiles of Populus deltoides and (b) the composition of the residue derived from the liquefaction using different solvents: alcohols from methanol to n-hexanol, water, acetone, cyclohexane, ethyleneglycol, mono-and triethanolamine and lactic acid.…”

Developing Process Designs for Biorefineries—Definitions, Categories, and Unit Operations

“…Hydrothermal treatment removes only small amounts of lignin (the acid soluble fraction), and changes the lignin structure by melting, coagulating and subsequently depolymerizing the cellulose fibers. Therefore, it is not possible to extract lignin in its functional form from hydrothermally pretreated solids [71]. However, hydrothermal treatment greatly increases the available surface area of cellulose (by non-chemical swelling), which significantly enhances possible sites for enzyme activity.…”

“…However, hydrothermal treatment greatly increases the available surface area of cellulose (by non-chemical swelling), which significantly enhances possible sites for enzyme activity. The severity of pretreatment can be summarized by a single factor called R o (R o = t exp ((T − 100)/14.75), which links the effects of time, t (min) and temperature, T ( • C) [71]. Steam pretreatment, due to its high severity, (above 3.0) is one of the most used methods for creating high concentrations of sugar degradation products.…”