The use of catalytic hydrogenation to intercept carbohydrates in a dilute acid hydrolysis of biomass to effect a clean separation from lignin

J. Michael Robinson, Caroline E. Burgess, Melissa A. Bently, Chris D. Brasher, Bruce O. Horne, Danny M. Lillard, José M. Macias, Hari D. Mandal, Samuel C. Mills, Kevin D. O'Hara, Justin T. Pon, Annette F. Raigoza, Ernesto H. Sanchez, José S. Villarreal

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52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biomass carbohydrates are fractionated very cleanly (>99%) from unreacted insoluble lignin by a dilute acid hydrolysis (0.35-1.5% H 3PO4), wherein the incipient aldoses are intercepted by catalytic hydrogenation (Ru/C) to produce a solution of C5-C 6 polyols (xylitol, sorbitol) and anhydro polyols (sorbitan) in which no phenols could be detected (<100 ppm). A screen removes granular catalyst and lignin is simply filtered from the product slurry. This "intercepted dilute acid hydrolysis" (IDAH) of biomass to polyols affords high conversion for a variety of biomass types within 3-6 h at ∼185°C. Minimum polyols cost (not including catalyst cost) is calculated to range from $0.055-$0.070 kg-1. Polyols, rather than aldoses, are required for subsequent chemical conversion into hydrocarbon fuels.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)473-483
Number of pages11
JournalBiomass and Bioenergy
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Forestry
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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