Abstract
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 351-370 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Faraday Discussions |
Volume | 202 |
Early online date | 29 Mar 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2017 |
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Fast microwave-assisted acidolysis, a new biorefinery approach for a zero-waste utilisation of lignocellulosic biomass to produce high quality lignin and fermentable saccharides. / Zhou, Long; Santomauro, Fabio; Fan, Jiajun; Macquarrie, Duncan J; Clark, James; Chuck, Christopher James; Budarin, Vitaliy L.
In: Faraday Discussions, Vol. 202, 01.09.2017, p. 351-370.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Fast microwave-assisted acidolysis, a new biorefinery approach for a zero-waste utilisation of lignocellulosic biomass to produce high quality lignin and fermentable saccharides
AU - Zhou, Long
AU - Santomauro, Fabio
AU - Fan, Jiajun
AU - Macquarrie, Duncan J
AU - Clark, James
AU - Chuck, Christopher James
AU - Budarin, Vitaliy L
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - Generally biorefineries convert lignocellulosic biomass into a range of biofuels and further value added chemicals. However, conventional biorefinery processes focus mainly on the cellulose and hemicellulose fractions and therefore produce only low quality lignin, which is commonly burnt to provide process heat. To make full use of the biomass, more attention needs to be focussed on novel separation techniques, where the lignin can be isolated in a high quality suitable for further valorisation into aromatic chemicals and fuel components. In this paper, three types of lignocellulosic biomass (softwood, hardwood and herbaceous biomass) were processed by microwave-assisted acidolysis, to produce high quality lignin. The lignin from the softwood was isolated largely intact in the solid residue after acidolysis. For example, a 10 min treatment, microwave-assisted acidolysis produced a lignin with a purity of 93% and yield of 82%, superior to other conventional separation methods reported. Furthermore, the py-GC/MS analysis proved that the isolated lignin retained the original structure as native lignin in the feedstock without severe chemical modification. This is a large advantage, and the purified lignin is suitable for further chemical processing. To assess the suitability of this methodology as part of a biorefinery system, the aqueous phase, produced after acidolysis of the softwood, was characterised and assessed for its suitability for fermentation. The broth contained some mono- and disaccharides but mainly organic acids, oligosaccharides and furans. While this is unsuitable for S. cerevisiae and other common ethanol producing yeasts, two oleaginous yeasts with known inhibitor tolerances were selected; Cryptococcus curvatus and Metschnikowia pulcherrima. Both yeasts could grow on the broth, demonstrating suitable catabolism of the oligosaccharides and inhibitors over 7 days. In addition, both yeasts were shown to be able to produce an oil with a similar composition to palm oil. This preliminary work demonstrates new protocols of microwave-assisted acidolysis and therefore offers an effective approach to produce high purity lignin and fermentable chemicals, a key step towards a zero-waste lignocellulosic biorefinery.
AB - Generally biorefineries convert lignocellulosic biomass into a range of biofuels and further value added chemicals. However, conventional biorefinery processes focus mainly on the cellulose and hemicellulose fractions and therefore produce only low quality lignin, which is commonly burnt to provide process heat. To make full use of the biomass, more attention needs to be focussed on novel separation techniques, where the lignin can be isolated in a high quality suitable for further valorisation into aromatic chemicals and fuel components. In this paper, three types of lignocellulosic biomass (softwood, hardwood and herbaceous biomass) were processed by microwave-assisted acidolysis, to produce high quality lignin. The lignin from the softwood was isolated largely intact in the solid residue after acidolysis. For example, a 10 min treatment, microwave-assisted acidolysis produced a lignin with a purity of 93% and yield of 82%, superior to other conventional separation methods reported. Furthermore, the py-GC/MS analysis proved that the isolated lignin retained the original structure as native lignin in the feedstock without severe chemical modification. This is a large advantage, and the purified lignin is suitable for further chemical processing. To assess the suitability of this methodology as part of a biorefinery system, the aqueous phase, produced after acidolysis of the softwood, was characterised and assessed for its suitability for fermentation. The broth contained some mono- and disaccharides but mainly organic acids, oligosaccharides and furans. While this is unsuitable for S. cerevisiae and other common ethanol producing yeasts, two oleaginous yeasts with known inhibitor tolerances were selected; Cryptococcus curvatus and Metschnikowia pulcherrima. Both yeasts could grow on the broth, demonstrating suitable catabolism of the oligosaccharides and inhibitors over 7 days. In addition, both yeasts were shown to be able to produce an oil with a similar composition to palm oil. This preliminary work demonstrates new protocols of microwave-assisted acidolysis and therefore offers an effective approach to produce high purity lignin and fermentable chemicals, a key step towards a zero-waste lignocellulosic biorefinery.
U2 - 10.1039/C7FD00102A
DO - 10.1039/C7FD00102A
M3 - Article
VL - 202
SP - 351
EP - 370
JO - Faraday Discussions
JF - Faraday Discussions
SN - 1364-5498
ER -