Directional liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass for value added monosaccharides and aromatic compounds

Abstract

Using lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for sustainable production of platform molecules is of great significance. We examined the directional liquefaction coupled with efficient stepwise fractionation of bamboo biomass into two groups of chemicals: monosaccharides and aromatic products. When sulfuric acid was used as the catalyst, a conversion of 70% was achieved with a 40% yield of monosaccharides and a 20% yield of aromatics were obtained at 180 °C for 30 min when the catalyst loading was 3.0% per 6.0 g bamboo. The production of 5-hydroxymethylfural (HMF), 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF), ethyl levulinate (EL) and furfural was analyzed in terms of by-products formation. Due to similar physiochemical properties in each fraction, the platform molecules could broaden a new paradigm of bamboo biomass utilization for renewable energy and value-added biochemicals.