Effective Dissolution of Biomass in Ionic Liquids by Irradiation of Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

Abstract

Biomass was dissolved in ionic liquids under non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma irradiation. On plasma irradiation, the amount of dissolved biomass in the ionic liquids increased from 15 to 29 mg for bagasse and from 26 to 36 mg for Japanese cedar. The high solubility is attributed to the deconstruction of the lignin network by active chemical species generated by the plasma. Selective extraction of cellulose from biomass was observed under the plasma irradiation.

Plasma technology for lignocellulosic biomass conversion toward an electrified biorefinery

“…Plasma treatment for 2 h at pH 12 gave a maximum lignin solubility (>50%) and yields of glucose and xylose of 51.3% and 38.5%, respectively. Kuroda et al 96 treated Bagasse and Japanese cedar suspensions in an ionic liquid, namely 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim]OAc), with a He plasma jet. They observed enhanced solubility attributed to the selective extraction of cellulose, enabled by the disruption of the lignin network.…”

“…Kuroda et al 96 applied a He plasma in contact with [Emim] OAc ionic liquid to treat cellulolytic enzyme lignin and 2-phenoxy-acetophenone, a lignin model compound. They observed a significant drop of lignin molecular weight and the formation of minor amounts of phenol, p-cresol, and syringaldehyde after 4 h treatment.…”