Gamma-valerolactone biorefinery: Catalyzed birch fractionation and valorization of pulping streams with solvent recovery

Marianna Granatier; Huy Quang Lê; Yibo Ma; Marja Rissanen; Inge Schlapp-Hackl; Daryna Diment; Anna Zaykovskaya; Juha-Pekka Pokki; Mikhail Balakshin; Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen; Ville Alopaeus; Herbert Sixta

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17423

Gamma-valerolactone biorefinery: Catalyzed birch fractionation and valorization of pulping streams with solvent recovery

Heliyon. 2023 Jun 19;9(6):e17423. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17423. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland.
² Department of Materials Science, University of Tampere, Kuntokatu 3, 33520, Tampere, Finland.
³ School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland.

Abstract

In this study, we propose a full gamma-valerolactone (GVL) organosolv biorefinery concept including the utilization of all pulping streams, solvent recovery, and preliminary material and energy balances. GVL is a renewable and non-toxic solvent that fractionates woody biomass. The silver birch chips were pulped (45-65 wt% GVL, 150 °C, 2 h) under a series of acid-catalyzed conditions (5-12 kg H₂SO₄/t), and the fully bleached pulp was spun into fibers by the IONCELL® process and knitted into the fabric. The dissolved lignin was precipitated by water from spent liquor (1:1) and processed into polyhydroxyurethane. Most of the dissolved hemicelluloses were in the form of xylose, therefore, the crystallization efficiency of xylose from spent liquor in the presence of residual GVL was studied. The GVL recovery rate in the lab column was 66%, however by increasing the number of equilibrium stages, 99% recovery could be achieved.

Keywords: Biomass; Biorefinery; Cellulose; Gamma-valerolactone; Pulping.