Conversion of Babool wood residue to 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural: Kinetics and Process modelling

Abstract

This study proposes an integrated approach for the formation of total reducing sugars (TRS) and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) from forestry biomass. Detailed kinetics was studied using an irreversible series model and the developed kinetic model is congruent with the experimental data. The obtained rate constants were also applied to gain insight for designing continuous reactor configurations. Maximum TRS (32.28%) and 5-HMF yield (42.32%) was obtained in 67.13 min and 311.62 min at 120 °C using single-stage CSTR whereas complete conversion of TRS was observed in 17.03 min with significant 5-HMF yield (23.68%) in 39.07 min at 120 °C using two equal-sized CSTR in series. Also, maximum TRS yield (30.61%) and 5-HMF yield (58.41%) was observed in 67.13 min and 193.38 min respectively using single-stage PFR. The proposed model for Babool wood hydrolysis will be valuable to facilitate the cost-effective and sustainable conversion of waste biomass to bio-based fuels.