Supercritical ethanol as an enhanced medium for lignocellulosic biomass liquefaction: Influence of physical process parameters

Steffen Brand, Ratna Frida Susanti, Seok Ki Kim, Hong-shik Lee, Jaehoon Kim and Byung-In Sang

Energy, 2013, vol. 59, issue C, 173-182

Abstract: In this study, the influence of various physical process parameters on the liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass (pine wood) in supercritical ethanol was investigated. The parameters include reaction temperature (280–400 °C), initial nitrogen pressure (0.4–7.5 MPa), reaction time (0–240 min), and biomass-to-solvent ratio (0.06–0.25 g/g). The reaction temperature and residence time were found to have a more significant effect on biomass conversion and product yield than pressure and biomass-to-solvent ratio had; conversion in the range 34.0–98.1% and biocrude yield in the range 15.8–59.9 wt% were observed depending on the process parameters. Despite the absence of catalysts and external hydrogen source, solid biomass to liquid and gaseous products conversion of 98.1%, and a high biocrude yield of approximately 65.8 wt% were achieved at 400 °C, 120 min, and a biomass-to-solvent ratio of 0.06 g/g. Moreover, the biocrude contained considerably lower amounts of oxygen and higher amounts of carbon and hydrogen, resulting in a substantially higher heating value (>30 MJ/kg) as compared to raw feedstock (20.4 MJ/kg). A comparison with sub- or supercritical water-based liquefaction revealed that supercritical ethanol produced biocrude with a lower molecular weight and much better yield. Finally, a new biomass liquefaction reaction mechanism associated with supercritical ethanol is proposed.

Keywords: Supercritical ethanol; Liquefaction; Lignocellulosic biomass; Biocrude; Hydrogen donor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:59:y:2013:i:c:p:173-182

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.06.049

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