Microwave-assisted catalyst-free hydrolysis of fibrous cellulose for deriving sugars and biochemicals

doi:10.1007/s11705-019-1804-5

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (4) : 718-726 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1804-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Microwave-assisted catalyst-free hydrolysis of fibrous cellulose for deriving sugars and biochemicals

Songshan Jiang^1,^2,³, Helen Daly¹, Huan Xiang¹, Ying Yan³, Huiping Zhang³, Christopher Hardacre¹(

), Xiaolei Fan¹(

)

¹. School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
². School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China
³. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China

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Abstract

Microwave (MW) assisted catalyst-free hydrolysis of fibrous cellulose (FC, cellulolysis) at 200°C promoted a cellulose conversion of ca. 37.2% and quantitative production of valuable C5/C6 sugars (e.g., glucose) and the according platform biochemicals (e.g., 5-hydroxymethylfurfural), corresponding to an overall selectivity of 96.5%. Conversely, conventional hydrothermal cellulolysis under similar conditions was not effective, even after 24 h, carbonising the FC. Based on the systematic study of MW-assisted cellulolysis, the specific interaction between water molecules and macroscopic FC under the MW irradiation was proposed, accounting for the interpretation of the experimental observation. The kinetic energy of water molecules under the MW irradiation facilitated the C–C (in the non-hindered surface –CH₂OH groups) and C–O–C bond breaking (inside the cellulose cavities) in FC, producing primary cellulolysis products of xylose, glucose and cellobiose.

Keywords microwave fibrous cellulose hydrolysis sugars mechanism

Corresponding Author(s): Christopher Hardacre,Xiaolei Fan

Online First Date: 08 April 2019 Issue Date: 04 December 2019

Cite this article:

Songshan Jiang,Helen Daly,Huan Xiang, et al. Microwave-assisted catalyst-free hydrolysis of fibrous cellulose for deriving sugars and biochemicals[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(4): 718-726.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-019-1804-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2019/V13/I4/718

Fig.1 Comparative studies of the hydrolysis of FC under MW and HT treatment: (a) conversion of cellulose, (b) distribution of hydrolysis products, (c) HPLC analysis (RI signals) and (d) (UV signals) of the cellulolysis liquid fractions

Fig.2 (a) Cellulose conversion as a function of time in MW-assisted cellulolysis; (b) concentration profiles of glucose and 5-HMF; (c) concentration profiles of xylose and furfural; (d) concentration distribution of cellobiose and levoglucosan in the liquid fractions

Fig.3 Product distribution by HPLC in the liquid fractions of the MW-assisted treatment of FC (r_MW = 5 kW/L)

Fig.4 HPLC analysis of the liquid fractions of (a) MW-assisted catalysts-free treatment of xylose, glucose and cellobiose (RI signals after 0.5 h) and (b) MW-assisted catalysts-free treatment of xylose, glucose and cellobiose (UV signals after 0.5 h)

Fig.5 Reaction pathway of MW-assisted catalyst-free hydrolysis of FC

Fig.6 XRD patterns of (a) MCC and FC and (b) FC residuals from the MW-assisted cellulolysis of FC after different MW irradiation times (r_MW = 5 kW/L)

Fig.7 SEM images of FC: (a) and (b) before the MW-assisted cellulolysis; (c) and (d) after the MW-assisted cellulolysis (4 h, r_MW = 5 kW/L)

Fig.8 Products distribution of MW-assisted cellulolysis: 4 h hydrolysis with the pristine cellulose (1^st run) and 4 h hydrolysis with the hydrolysed cellulose (2^nd run)

Fig.9 HPLC spectra of MW-assisted catalyst-free hydrolysis of raw biomass: (a) maple leaves, (b) grass and (c) cellulose (as the reference)

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