Efficient direct conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biobased platform chemicals in ionic liquid-water medium

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 169; pp. 1051 - 1057
• Main Authors: Nis, Berna, Kaya Ozsel, Burcak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2021
• Subjects: 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural; Biomass conversion; Furfural; Ionic liquids; Levulinic acid; Ionic liquids; Furfural; Levulinic acid; Biomass conversion; 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.01.083

In this study, the conversion of corn straw, sorghum and cellulose into valuable chemicals (furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, levulinic acid) in different ionic liquid-water medium were investigated. Different reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, time and solvent ratio were optimized to achieve the highest conversion of biomass and selectivity of the products. Under the optimal reaction conditions (180 °C, 30 min, 1:5 ratio), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([BMIM]HSO4) was found to display the highest efficiency which can be attributed to the acidic character of the ionic liquid. 117.4 mg levulinic acid, 11.8 mg 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and 9.4 mg furfural were obtained per g of sorghum. The results showed that 5-fold higher quantity of LA was obtained from sorghum biomass in comparison with pure cellulose. In addition, Amberlyst-15 was examined as a solid acid catalyst for conversion of cellulose in [BMIM]HSO4-water solvent system resulting in 4.6-fold increase in the quantity of levulinic acid. This study provides an alternative single step approach for production of valuable chemicals from renewable biomass.
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•Conversion of real biomass was carried out in a self-pressurized batch system.•[BMIM]HSO4 is more effective cosolvent than [BMIM]Cl in biomass conversion process.•Increasing the temperature, increased LA, 5-HMF, furfural yields.•Acidity of ionic liquid is a crucial property in the synthesis of LA.