Biorefinery of Lignocellulosic Biomass from an Elm Clone: Production of Fermentable Sugars and Lignin‐Derived Biochar for Energy and Environmental Applications

Abstract

Valorization of lignocellulosic feedstock from a Dutch elm disease tolerant Ulmus minor clone was studied as a new biomass resource. Herein, fermentable sugars and activated carbons from the side‐stream lignins were produced. For the sugar extraction organosolv and acid hydrolysis pretreatments prior to enzymatic hydrolysis were compared for the first time for this clone prior to enzymatic hydrolysis; organosolv was more efficient for delignification (49 %), while acid hydrolysis was more efficient at eliminating hemicelluloses (95 %). A high final glucose concentration of 22–23.5 g L−1 was obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis suggesting that this clone can be considered a potential source for glucose‐based biofuel production. The side‐stream lignins were converted to microporous biochars of high surface area (1220 m2 g−1) and micropore volume (0.42 cm3 g−1). These biochars exhibited excellent properties as electrodes in supercapacitors with a specific capacitance of 118 F g−1 and a high energy density of 14 Wh kg−1 at 7000 W kg−1, while they were also efficient adsorbents in water remediation of model contaminants.

Cellulose Nanofibers from a Dutch Elm Disease-Resistant Ulmus minor Clone

“…Among the DED-resistant cultivars registered in Spain for forest use, the clone Ademuz have shown an outstanding adaptation to different environments and salient growth characteristics [ 4 ]. The potential use of this clone as raw material in lignocellulosic biorefineries has been previously studied by our group [ 5 ]. In this previous work, the production of fermentable sugars and the revalorization of lignin residues as biochar for energy and environmental applications were studied.…”

Production of Omega-3 Fatty Acids from the Microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii by Utilizing Both Pentose and Hexose Sugars from Agricultural Residues

“…The advantageous use of EtOH is supported by recent approaches, such as the integration of first-and secondgeneration ethanol, to enhance the commercialization of cellulose-derived EtOH [34]. In addition, the concentration of EtOH in the reaction medium of organosolv processes has been mainly within 30-60% (v/v) [35][36][37], which is in concert with the concentration acquired after the first distillation at first-generation EtOH industries. Both ACO and EtOH have aroused research interest on account of their distinct properties: they dissolve lignin and enable recovery of solid lignin after solvent removal, since the latter is insoluble in aqueous solutions [35]; they enable fractionation of hemicellulose-derived oligosaccharides from cellulose because the former exhibit some solubility in the organic solvent: H 2 O mixture [36]; they result in cellulose structure swelling, causing the crystal structure of cellulose fibers to be unfolded and thus rendering cellulose more eligible for hydrolysis [38]; and they can be both collected and recycled, thus reducing operating costs.…”

Influence of Cellulose Characteristics on Pyrolysis Suitability

“…In this sense, Agarwal et al [50] showed a higher crystallinity index of flax biomass compared to other hardwoods and softwoods, in accordance with data showed herein. Moreover, the type of pulping process, i.e., chemical reagents, temperature, pressure, etc., also influences the cellulose crystallinity [50,52]. Thus, either the removal degree of hemicellulose, lignin, extractives, etc., or the grade of attack, i.e., peeling and chain scissions, on the amorphous domains of cellulose is a factor that affects the crystallinity of cellulose samples.…”