Direct conversion from Jerusalem artichoke to hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) using the Fenton reaction

One-Pot Tandem Transformation of Inulin as Fructose-Rich Platform Towards 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural: Feedstock Advantages, Acid-Site Regulation and Solvent Effects

The valorization of non-grain biomass feedstocks to value-added chemicals, polymers and alternative fuels is a crucial route for the utilization of renewable resources. Inulin belongs to a type of fructans, which is a pivotal platform bridging upstream fructose-rich biomass feedstocks typically represented by Jerusalem artichoke and downstream platform molecules such as alcohols, aldehydes and acids. Fructose can be directly obtained from the inulin hydrolysis and further converted into various platform chemicals, which is a more environmentally economical route than the conventional catalytic upgrading of cellulose. Nevertheless, most perspectives over the last decade have focused on the valorization of cellulose-derived carbohydrates, without much emphasis on the practical importance of one-pot transformation of inulin. In this review, we aim to demonstrate an efficient one-pot tandem transformation system of the inulin as fructose-rich platform towards 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Core concerns are placed on elucidating the contributing roles of acid sites and solvents in enhancing the overall catalytic performance. The perspectives presented in this review may contribute to the innovation in the catalytic refining of fructose-rich non-grain biomass and the development of a greener biomass-based energy system.

Production of the 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid Bio-Monomer From 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Over a Molybdenum-Vanadium Oxide Catalyst

2, 5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is an important bio-monomer that can potentially replace terephthalic acid to synthesize degradable polyesters. Efficient selective oxidation of biomass-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to FDCA has been a significant but challenging work in the past decades. In this study, a novel molybdenum-vanadium oxide (Mo-V-O) catalyst was prepared by a simple method and showed excellent catalytic activity for converting HMF to FDCA. A high FDCA selectivity of 94.5 and 98.2% conversion of HMF were achieved under the optimal conditions with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. FT-IR, SEM, XRD and TG were applied to investigate the properties of Mo-V-O catalyst. After fitting experimental data with the first-order kinetics equation, the evaluated apparent activation energies of HMF oxidation were obtained. The experimental design and study were carried out by response surface methodology (RSM) to test the effects of reaction conditions on the catalytic process.

Acidic seawater improved 5-hydroxymethylfurfural yield from sugarcane bagasse under microwave hydrothermal liquefaction

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) as value-added platform chemical can be derived from biomass. This study used microwave hydrothermal liquefaction (MHTL) to obtain HMF from sugarcane bagasse in acidic seawater conditions. The key processing parameters including temperature, reaction time, and liquid-to-solid ratio (L/S) were evaluated and optimized. The highest HMF yield of 8.1 wt% was obtained at 149 °C with a reaction time of 4 min and a L/S value of 12:1, respectively. This yield is considerable and even higher than the yield derived from sugarcane molasses under similar microwave conditions in the absence of seawater. Hence, acidic seawater was found to promote the hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse to give HMF precursor (i.e. fructose and glucose), while simultaneously inhibiting the conversion of HMF to levulinic acid under MHTL conditions, possibly explaining the high HMF yield. This method presents a new and sustainable means of transforming waste biomass to valuable substances using seawater or brine wastewater.

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) Production from Real Biomasses

The present paper reviews recent advances on the direct synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from different kinds of raw biomasses. In particular, in the paper HMF production from: (i) edible biomasses; (ii) non-edible lignocellulosic biomasses; (iii) food wastes (FW) have been reviewed. The different processes and catalytic systems have been reviewed and their merits, demerits and requirements for commercialisation outlined.

Lipid extraction from microalgae cell using UV-Fenton-like reaction

In this study, UV light was adopted to make it possible to attain sufficiently high extraction efficiency even with a minimal amount of H2O2. The Fenton-like reaction showed 80% of lipid extraction efficiency with 0.5% H2O2, whereas the provision of 16 W UV increased efficiency to 85% and decreased H2O2 consumption to 0.3%. This oxidation-based lipid extraction means have one fortuitous yet beneficial effect to remove chlorophylls, which are known to degrade the quality of the final product like biodiesel. The UV-Fenton-like reaction was found to eliminate 77% of chlorophylls. Such oxidation-based lipid extraction approaches as the Fenton-like reaction appear to have the sure application potential; and it is more so with the help of UV.

Harvesting of microalgae cell using oxidized dye wastewater

In this study, oxidized dye wastewaters were tested for their potential to be used as a cheap coagulant for microalgae harvesting. Two dyes (methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO)) were selected as model dyes, and the Fenton-like reaction under high temperature (90 °C, 1 min) employed as an oxidative treatment option. A maximum harvesting efficiency over 90% was obtained with both MB and MO at a dilution ratio of 5:1 (dye wastewater: cell culture), when the optimal oxidation condition was 20 mg/L of dye, 1 mM of FeCl3, and 0.5% of H2O2 concentration. This phenomenon could be explained by the possibility that amine groups are formed and exposed in oxidized dyes, which act as a kind of amine-based coagulant just like chitosan. This study clearly showed that dye wastewater, when properly oxidized, could serve as a potent coagulant for microalgae harvesting, potentially rendering the harvesting cost reduced to a substantial degree.

Lipid extraction and esterification for microalgae-based biodiesel production using pyrite (FeS2)

In this study, pyrite (FeS2) was used for lipid extraction as well as esterification processes for microalgae-based biodiesel production. An iron-mediated oxidation reaction, Fenton-like reaction, produced an expected degree of lipid extraction, but pyrite was less effective than FeCl3 commercial powder. That low efficiency was improved by using oxidized pyrite, which showed an equivalent lipid extraction efficiency to FeCl3, about 90%, when 20 mM of catalyst was used. Oxidized pyrite was also employed in the esterification step, and converted free fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters under acidic conditions; thus, the fatal problem of saponification during esterification with alkaline catalysts was avoided, and esterification efficiency over 90% was obtained. This study clearly showed that pyrite could be utilized as a cheap catalyst in the lipid extraction and esterification steps for microalgae-based biodiesel production.

Ferric chloride based downstream process for microalgae based biodiesel production

In this study, ferric chloride (FeCl3) was used to integrate downstream processes (harvesting, lipid extraction, and esterification). At concentration of 200 mg/L and at pH 3, FeCl3 exhibited an expected degree of coagulation and an increase in cell density of ten times (170 mg/10 mL). An iron-mediated oxidation reaction, Fenton-like reaction, was used to extract lipid from the harvested biomass, and efficiency of 80% was obtained with 0.5% H2O2 at 90 °C. The iron compound was also employed in the esterification step, and converted free fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters under acidic conditions; thus, the fatal problem of saponification during esterification with alkaline catalysts was avoided, and esterification efficiency over 90% was obtained. This study clearly showed that FeCl3 in the harvesting process is beneficial in all downstream steps and have a potential to greatly reduce the production cost of microalgae-originated biodiesel.