Characterization of liquefied products from corn stalk and its biomass components by polyhydric alcohols with phosphoric acid

Carbohydr Polym. 2019 Jul 1:215:170-178. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.03.096. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Abstract

The hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were directly separated from corn stalk, and their liquefaction processes were investigated via acid-catalyzed solvolysis treatment with 1,2-propylene glycol (PG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) to produce bio-oil and residues. The main components, functional groups and organics structure of bio-oil were analyzed by the FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, GCMS, and TGA. It was found that there had a similar tendency in the liquefaction processes of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Corn stalk and its biomass components were degraded and formed plentiful low-molecular polymers by acid catalysis, prior to polymers were converted into corresponding PG/DEG-derivatives. Finally, low-molecular weight soluble substances and insoluble residues were generated by decomposition and polymerization. Additionally, more than 80% compounds' carbon number in four bio-oils was below 25. The residues were mostly stemmed from macromolecules produced by degradation products and PG/DEG or re-polymerization between degraded small molecules.

Keywords: Bio-oil; Corn stalk; Degradation; Liquefaction.

MeSH terms

  • Lignin / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Phosphoric Acids / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Polymerization
  • Polyphenols / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Zea mays / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bio-Oil
  • Phosphoric Acids
  • Plant Oils
  • Polyphenols
  • Polysaccharides
  • hemicellulose
  • Lignin
  • phosphoric acid