Cellulose fast pyrolysis for platform chemicals: assessment of potential targets and suitable reactor technology

Abstract

The cellulosic component of lignocellulosic biomass can be converted to commercially valuable platform chemicals through pyrolysis provided it is effectively controlled and optimized. This review first discusses the underpinning kinetics and mechanism of cellulose pyrolysis to identify target platform chemicals. Platform chemicals like 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural, 5‐chloromethyl furfural, and levoglucosenone, which are potentially amenable to the pyrolytic conversion of cellulose, are then elucidated. There are laboratory and large‐scale reactor technologies available for converting biomass to bio‐oil but they have not been comprehensively investigated for producing platform chemicals through pyrolysis. This review critically evaluates different reactor types available for developing the catalytic pyrolysis process for converting cellulosic component of biomass to platform chemicals. The fluidized bed reactor stands out as the most suitable reactor technology for the catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose to platform chemicals owing to attributes like short residence time, high heating rate, uniform mixing, efficient heat transfer, and scalability of operations. This article provides perspective on the implementation of this technology for the pyrolysis of the cellulosic component of biomass to platform chemicals. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Improving the Conversion of Biomass in Catalytic Pyrolysis via Intensification of Biomass—Catalyst Contact by Co-Pressing

“…Cellulose is a glucose polymer linked by a β-1-4-glycosidic bond [1,4,5,9]. Its structure is regular with higher crystallinity without any branched chains [10][11][12]. Hemicellulose is a complex polymer mainly composed of pentoses (xylose and arabinose) and hexoses (mannose, galactose, and glucose) [1,4,5,[9][10][11][12] that are highly substituted with acetic acid [2].…”

“…Its structure is regular with higher crystallinity without any branched chains [10][11][12]. Hemicellulose is a complex polymer mainly composed of pentoses (xylose and arabinose) and hexoses (mannose, galactose, and glucose) [1,4,5,[9][10][11][12] that are highly substituted with acetic acid [2]. Hemicellulose polysaccharides differ, in terms of their structures as well as physical and physicochemical properties [10,11].…”

Recent Advances in the Catalytic Upgrading of Biomass Platform Chemicals Via Hydrotalcite-Derived Metal Catalysts

“…Biobased platform chemicals that are readily available from biomass must be upgraded and converted to obtain high-value-added biobased chemicals. Biobased platform chemicals, including furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), levulinic acid (LA), and glycerol, are easily prepared from biomass feedstock [19]. The formation of furfural from xylose can occur via acidcatalyzed conversion [20]; glycerol is produced on a large scale as a by-product of biodiesel [21].…”

Pyrolysis Degradation of Cellulose over Highly Effective ZnO and ZnO−CuO Nanocatalysts

“…[1,2] One of the most promising methods of lignocellulosic biomass conversion to biofuels and various chemicals is pyrolysis. [3,4] Fast pyrolysis has already entered the commercialization phase in various parts of the world [5,6] since it provides advantages such as high overall efficiency, [7] it is rarely affected by the environmental conditions, [5] provides abundant and low feedstock cost [7] and high energy conversion rates. [5] Product distribution and reaction mechanism of lignocellulosic biomass fast pyrolysis depends on the chemical composition of the biomass and the ratio of the main components.…”