Abstract
Constantly decreasing fossil resources and exceeding energy demands are the most alarming concerns nowadays. The only way out is to develop efficient, safe, and economical biomass processing protocols that can lead toward biofuels and fine chemicals. This research is one of such consequences involving the deconstruction and conversion of wheat straw carbohydrate constituents into reducing sugars via one-pot reaction promoted by Lewis acidic pyridinium-based ionic liquids (PyILs) mixed with different metal salts (MCl). Various parameters such as the type of metal salt, loading amount of metal salt, time, temperature, particle size of biomass, and water content which affect the deconstruction of wheat straw have been evaluated and optimized. Among the studied ionic liquid (IL) and metal salt systems, the best results were obtained with [BMPy]+. The dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) assay was used to determine the percentage of total reducing sugars (TRS) generated during treatment of wheat straw. The deconstructed wheat straw was characterized with various analytical tools, that is, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses. The IL–metal salt system was recycled for subsequent treatment of wheat straw. Statistical parameters were calculated from analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 level of confidence.
Highlights
Lignocellulosic biomass is the most economic and abundant primary energy resource with a worldwide production of about 1 × 1010 million tons per annum (Alvira et al, 2010)
The influence of various reaction parameters like the type of metal chlorides and their different catalytic loadings, biomass particle size, water content, time, and temperature was monitored for optimization of one-pot delignification and simultaneous conversion of wheat straw into reducing sugars
The results showed an inverse relation of high biomass particle size with dissolution and deconstruction of biomass as is apparent by less percentage conversion of wheat straw cellulose (Figure 2)
Summary
Lignocellulosic biomass is the most economic and abundant primary energy resource with a worldwide production of about 1 × 1010 million tons per annum (Alvira et al, 2010). ILs tend to produce high monomeric sugars starting from biomass and prevent them from degradation They limit the inhibitory products and carbon dioxide formation, solvent loss, and consumption of energy (Rocha et al, 2017). The other major lignocellulosic aromatic component allows the formation of wide-ranging bulk and fine aromatic compounds due to its matchless chemical and structural properties It has been considered less, it is thought to be a major aromatic resource of the bio-based economy for production of biofuels and fine chemicals (Zakzeski et al, 2010). The pretreatment using ILs is economical and beneficial for reduction of energy demands
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