Phosphoric acid-activated wood biochar for catalytic conversion of starch-rich food waste into glucose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Leichang Cao; Iris K M Yu; Daniel C W Tsang; Shicheng Zhang; Yong Sik Ok; Eilhann E Kwon; Hocheol Song; Chi Sun Poon

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.048

Phosphoric acid-activated wood biochar for catalytic conversion of starch-rich food waste into glucose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Bioresour Technol. 2018 Nov:267:242-248. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.048. Epub 2018 Jul 10.

Authors

Leichang Cao¹, Iris K M Yu², Daniel C W Tsang³, Shicheng Zhang⁴, Yong Sik Ok⁵, Eilhann E Kwon⁶, Hocheol Song⁶, Chi Sun Poon²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
³ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: dan.tsang@polyu.edu.hk.
⁴ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
⁵ Korea Biochar Research Center, O-Jeong Eco-Resilience Institute (OJERI) & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 30025320
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.048

Abstract

The catalytic activity of engineered biochar was scrutinized for generation of glucose and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from starch-rich food waste (bread, rice, and spaghetti). The biochar catalysts were synthesized by chemical activation of pinewood sawdust with phosphoric acid at 400-600 °C. Higher activation temperatures enhanced the development of porosity and acidity (characterized by COPO₃ and CPO₃ surface groups), which imparted higher catalytic activity of H₃PO₄-activated biochar towards starch hydrolysis and fructose dehydration. Positive correlations were observed between HMF selectivity and ratio of mesopore to micropore volume, and between fructose conversion and total acid density. High yields of glucose (86.5 Cmol% at 150 °C, 20 min) and HMF (30.2 Cmol% at 180 °C, 20 min) were produced from rice starch and bread waste, respectively, over H₃PO₄-activated biochar. These results highlighted the potential of biochar catalyst in biorefinery as an emerging application of engineered biochar.

Keywords: Acid activation; Biorefinery; Engineered biochar; Food waste valorization; Lignocellulosic biomass.

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Charcoal*
Furaldehyde / analogs & derivatives*
Glucose*
Phosphoric Acids / chemistry*
Starch
Wood

Substances

Phosphoric Acids
biochar
Charcoal
5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Starch
Furaldehyde
Glucose