Effects of liquefaction parameters of cellulose in supercritical solvents of methanol, ethanol and acetone on products yield and compositions

Bioresour Technol. 2019 Mar:275:123-129. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.047. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Abstract

Cellulose extracted from cornstalk was liquefied in supercritical organic solvents at different liquefaction parameters. Different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) were used to disintegrate cellulose at different temperatures (240, 260, 280, 300 and 320 °C), reaction time (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) and solvents dosage (0, 80, 120, 160 and 200 mL). The results showed that similar liquefaction characteristics of cellulose were observed in three different solvents. The larger bio-oil yield and smaller residue yield obtained from cellulose liquefaction in solvents were achieved under the suitable conditions (320 °C, 160 mL, 60-90 min), respectively. And the type of solvents was the main effect to the distribution of the composition of bio-oil. The dominant constituents of bio-oil that were produced in supercritical methanol was hydrocarbon, and ketones and esters were mainly produced in supercritical ethanol, whereas ketones compounds were primarily derived in supercritical acetone.

Keywords: Cellulose; Composition; Liquefaction; Product yield; Supercritical solvent.

MeSH terms

  • Acetone / chemistry*
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Ethanol / chemistry*
  • Methanol / chemistry*
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / metabolism
  • Polyphenols / chemistry
  • Polyphenols / metabolism
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Bio-Oil
  • Plant Oils
  • Polyphenols
  • Solvents
  • Acetone
  • Ethanol
  • Cellulose
  • Methanol