Bio based fuels and fuel additives from lignocellulose feedstock via the production of levulinic acid and furfural

Abstract

The demand for biomass-derived fuels and fuel additives, particularly in the transportation sector, has stimulated intense research efforts in the chemistry of levulinic acid and levulinic acid secondary products over the past decade. Additionally, recent technological progress in lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) chemistry has also increased attention in this regard. As a result, several oxygenating fuel additives with potential applications in both gasoline and diesel fuels have been identified. Some of the chemicals, such as ethyl valerate, appear to be viable alternatives to the currently used branched, short-chain ethers that are derived from side products of petrol refining. Cost-effective applications of lignocellulosic biomass are a crucial aspect of its feasibility. In consideration of the LCF biorefinery concept, the feasibility must also include the chemical pulping of LCF and the comprehensive utilisation of its main constituents cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. The present study focuses on cellulose and hemicelluloses as viable sources for the production of biofuels and biofuel additives. Multifunctional catalysis, including hydrogenation and acid catalysis are the primary instruments used for the conversion of the monomeric carbohydrate building blocks, i.e., mainly C5 sugars, such as xylose and arabinose, and C6 sugars in the form of glucose and their respective secondary products, furfural and levulinic acid. Lignin utilisation is not addressed in this paper.

Dehydration of xylose to furfural over niobium phosphate catalyst in biphasic solvent system

“…As a non-petroleum-derived product, furfural has been broadly used as the feedstock in the manufacturing of furfuryl alcohol, 2-methylfuran, tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), plastics, pharmaceutics and agrochemicals [9][10][11]. Recently, it was found that furfural can also be used as the building block for renewable diesel or jet fuel [12].…”

Wood capillarity and deacetylation during eucalyptus alkaline impregnation. Sulphidity effects and comparison between transverse directions

“…Within the scope of a forest biorefi nery concept, alkaline pre-extraction in a kraft pulp mill permits the separation of a part of the hemicelluloses, which can be considered as an additional value-added product. Biorefi nery is an emerging research fi eld, with its multifunctional challenges as demonstrated by a large body of recent publications, for example: Dautzenberg et al (2011) Testova et al (2011) , just to mention a few. Al -Dajani and Tschirner (2008) showed that 40 to 50 kg xylan t -1 of poplar wood can be separated by preextraction and the alkali consumption of the subsequent kraft pulping is reduced.…”

Chemical Pretreatments of Wood Chips Prior to Alkaline Pulping - A Review of Pretreatment Alternatives, Chemical Aspects of the Resulting Liquors, and Pulping Outcomes

“…Due to the depleting resources of fossil fuels, increased concern of global warming, and increased demand for energy and materials, fossil carbon sources, such as petroleum and natural gas, must be replaced by renewable raw materials. Chemicals, biofuels, and biocomposites manufactured from renewable resources, such as forest and agricultural biomass, have been considered to be the most promising alternatives for replacing traditional raw materials (Goldstein 1981;Sinsky 1983;Stevens 2004;Carvalheiro et al 2008;Cherubini 2010;Dautzenberg et al 2011;Alén 2011;Liu et al 2012a,b;Viikari et al 2012). While the needed energy production can be based on various alternative production systems (wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, nuclear fission, and fusion), the production of materials, such as chemicals, polymers, and fuels, mainly depends on biomass.…”