abstract
An integrated platform for furfural production and separation from xylans using an acidic aqueous biphasic system (AcABS) is described here. The AcABS is composed of the ionic liquid (IL) tributyltetradecylphosphonium chloride ([P444(14)]Cl) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), the latter acting both as a catalyst and phase-forming agent. Furfural is produced in the AcABS biphasic regime under microwave irradiation, being continuously extracted to the IL-rich phase. Operating conditions (reaction time, temperature, HCl and IL wt %, and solid/liquid ratio) were initially screened to identify the most relevant parameters affecting furfural production, being optimized using a response surface methodology approach. A maximum furfural yield of 78.8% and an extraction efficiency to the IL-rich phase of 85.5% were attained in 1 min in the microwave reactor, at 140 degrees C and 0.05 S/L ratio, with the ABS formed by 30 wt % IL and 6.5 wt % HCl. Three reaction cycles were performed by reusing the IL, in which 78.0% of furfural could be recovered from the IL-rich phase in all the reaction cycles, without compromising the furfural yield and extraction efficiency. This work demonstrates the potential of acidic-based aqueous biphasic systems as one-step production-separation strategies of high-value platform chemicals, paving the way toward sustainable development within biorefineries.
keywords
DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENT; LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS; IONIC-LIQUID; CONVERSION; XYLAN; XYLOSE; MEDIA; EXTRACTION; CATALYST; STRAW
subject category
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Chemical
authors
Morais, ES; Schaeffer, N; Freire, MG; Freire, CSR; Coutinho, JAP; Silvestre, AJD
our authors
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Full professor
Carmen Sofia da Rocha Freire Barros
Coordinating Researcher
Eduarda Serra Morais
Collaborator
Mara Guadalupe Freire Martins
Coordinating Researcher
Nicolas Schaeffer
Assistant ResearcherGroups
G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy
G5 - Biomimetic, Biological and Living Materials
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES. E.S.M. acknowledges FCT/MCTES for the Ph.D. grant [SFRH/BD/129341/2017]. N.S. acknowledges the national funds (OE), through FCT.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I. P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29th, changed by Law57/2017, of July 19th.