Characterization of biomass fractionation by sequential hydrolysis in a flow-through reactor
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study offers an integrated approach for sequential hydrolysis of biomass using flow-through hot-compressed water (HCW) and HCW with oxidative alkaline (HCW-OA), which effectively enhances the selective hemicellulose removal, lignin recovery and preserving the cellulose structure. Kinetics of both hemicellulose and lignin degradation by the flow-through HCW and HCW-OA treatments were found to obey the first-order reaction with low activation energies. Accounting 77.9 % of hemicellulose in biomass can be significantly removed by HCW treatment at a mild temperature of 180 ºC for 90 min, alongside regeneration of reducing sugars with xylose as the dominated. Subsequently about 82.8 % of total lignin was removed by HCW-OA at 140 ºC for 90 min with 3 wt% H 2 O 2 and 1.0 mol/L Na 2 CO 3 solutions using the residue pretreated by HCW at 180 ºC for 30 min as feedstock, accompanying with recovery of 64.5 % acid-soluble lignin and 30.8 % acid-insoluble lignin, which have a potential for lignin-derived chemicals. Post-treatment analysis revealed the residues after sequential HCW and HCW-OA treatments were enriched in cellulose up to 77.4 %, with no hemicellulose and less lignin. The significant decrease of cellulose thermal stability after flow-through HCW and HCW-OA treatments further highlights its potential in high-value products. This study provides an efficient separation and potential cascade utilization of three biomass components in biomass valorization. • An integrated sequential hydrolysis for woody biomass fractionation was investigated. • Selective hemicellulose and lignin removals was achieved with high cellulose preserving. • Kinetics of both hemicellulose and lignin decomposition obeyed the first-order reaction. • The thermal stability of cellulose after sequential hydrolysis was significantly decreased.
Source: Industrial Crops and Products
Authors: Hui Qin, Xin Huang, Feifan Yu, Yunlin Shao, Chuan Ma, Jingyu Ran
Institution: Chongqing University
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,720
Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing, Chongqing Science and Technology Commission, Venture and Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
OpenAlex ID: W4409522191