Experimental Research on Plasma Electrolytic Liquefaction of Microcrystalline Cellulose

Weidong Zhao (), Wenjie Liu, Yi Sun and Junfeng Wang
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Weidong Zhao: School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Wenjie Liu: School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Yi Sun: School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Junfeng Wang: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: The efficient liquefaction of cellulose is a critical technological pathway for the energy utilization of biomass. This study constructed a plasma electrolytic liquefaction experimental system based on the principle of liquid phase surface arc discharge, systematically investigating the effects of operational parameters, including working voltage, catalyst dosage, solid–liquid ratio, and micro-arc polarity, on the liquefaction characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose. Experimental results demonstrated that under optimized conditions—anode micro-arc configuration, working voltage of 750 V, catalyst dosage of 1.44 g, and solid–liquid ratio of 6:38—the cellulose conversion rate reached 79.2%, with a liquefied product mass of 4.75 g. Mechanistic analysis revealed that high-energy electrons and hydrogen ions generated by plasma discharge synergistically act on the cleavage of cellulose molecular chains. Under the combined effects of the catalyst and plasma, cellulose molecules are depolymerized into small molecular compounds. Compared with traditional liquefaction processes, this technology exhibits significant advantages in reaction rate and energy efficiency, providing a novel technical route for the efficient conversion of biomass resources.

Keywords: plasma; electrolytic liquefaction; cellulose; micro-arc polarity; reaction mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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