Rapid pretreatment of Miscanthus using the low-cost ionic liquid triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate at elevated temperatures
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Published version
Author(s)
Gschwend, Florence JV
Brandt-Talbot, A
Malaret, FJ
Shinde, Somnath
Hallett, JP
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Deconstruction with low-cost ionic liquids (ionoSolv) is a promising method to pre-condition lignocellulosic biomass for the production of renewable fuels, materials and chemicals. This study investigated process intensification strategies for the ionoSolv pretreatment of Miscanthus X giganteus using the low-cost ionic liquid triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ([TEA][HSO4]) in the presence of 20 wt% water, using high temperatures and a high solid to solvent loading of 1:5 g/g. The temperatures investigated were 150, 160, 170 and 180°C. We discuss the effect of pretreatment temperature on lignin and hemicellulose removal, cellulose degradation and enzymatic saccharification yields. We report that very good fractionation can be achieved across all investigated temperatures, including an enzymatic saccharification yield exceeding 75% of the theoretical maximum after only 15 min of treatment at 180°C. We further characterised the recovered lignins which established some tunability of the hydroxyl group content, subunit composition, connectivity and molecular weight distribution in the isolated lignin while maintaining maximum saccharification yield. This drastic reduction of pretreatment time at increased biomass loading without a yield penalty is promising for the development of a commercial ionoSolv pretreatment process.
Date Issued
2018-08-07
Date Acceptance
2018-05-07
Citation
Green Chemistry, 2018, 20 (15), pp.3486-3498
ISSN
1463-9262
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
3486
End Page
3498
Journal / Book Title
Green Chemistry
Volume
20
Issue
15
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2018. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/K038648/1
EP/K014676/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
LIGNOCELLULOSIC ETHANOL-PRODUCTION
GENERALIZED SEVERITY PARAMETER
DILUTE-ACID HYDROLYSIS
PHENOMENOLOGICAL KINETICS
TECHNOECONOMIC ANALYSIS
LAND-USE
LIGNIN
BIOMASS
CELLULOSE
SWITCHGRASS
03 Chemical Sciences
Organic Chemistry
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-06-29