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Smit AT, Bellinetto E, Dezaire T, Boumezgane O, Riddell LA, Turri S, Hoek M, Bruijnincx PCA, Griffini G. Tuning the Properties of Biobased PU Coatings via Selective Lignin Fractionation and Partial Depolymerization. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2023; 11:7193-7202. [PMID: 37180028 PMCID: PMC10171370 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c00889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) coatings with high lignin content and tunable properties were made using a combination of fractionation and partial catalytic depolymerization as a novel strategy to tailor lignin molar mass and hydroxyl group reactivity, the key parameters for use in PU coatings. Acetone organosolv lignin obtained from pilot-scale fractionation of beech wood chips was processed at the kilogram scale to produce lignin fractions with specific molar mass ranges (Mw 1000-6000 g/mol) and reduced polydispersity. Aliphatic hydroxyl groups were distributed relatively evenly over the lignin fractions, allowing detailed study of the correlation between lignin molar mass and hydroxyl group reactivity using an aliphatic polyisocyanate linker. As expected, the high molar mass fractions exhibited low cross-linking reactivity, yielding rigid coatings with a high glass transition temperature (Tg). The lower Mw fractions showed increased lignin reactivity, extent of cross-linking, and gave coatings with enhanced flexibility and lower Tg. Lignin properties could be further tailored by lignin partial depolymerization by reduction (PDR) of the beech wood lignin and its high molar mass fractions; excellent translation of the PDR process was observed from laboratory to the pilot scale necessary for coating applications in prospective industrial scenarios. Lignin depolymerization significantly improved lignin reactivity, and coatings produced from PDR lignin showed the lowest Tg values and highest coating flexibility. Overall, this study provides a powerful strategy for the production of PU coatings with tailored properties and high (>90%) biomass content, paving the path to the development of fully green and circular PU materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan T. Smit
- The
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies group, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emanuela Bellinetto
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Thomas Dezaire
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Oussama Boumezgane
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Luke A. Riddell
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefano Turri
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Michiel Hoek
- The
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies group, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gianmarco Griffini
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Smit AT, van Zomeren A, Dussan K, Riddell LA, Huijgen WJJ, Dijkstra JW, Bruijnincx PCA. Biomass Pre-Extraction as a Versatile Strategy to Improve Biorefinery Feedstock Flexibility, Sugar Yields, and Lignin Purity. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2022; 10:6012-6022. [PMID: 35571525 PMCID: PMC9092456 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Feedstock flexibility is highly advantageous for the viability of (solvent-based) biorefineries but comes with the considerable challenge of having to cope with the varying nature and typically high abundance of nonlignocellulose compounds in the most readily available residual biomass streams. Here, we demonstrate that mild aqueous acetone organosolv fractionation of various complex lignocellulosic raw materials (roadside grass, wheat straw, birch branches, almond shells, and a mixed stream thereof) is indeed negatively affected by these compounds and present a versatile strategy to mitigate this bottleneck in biorefining. A biomass pre-extraction approach has been developed to remove the detrimental extractives with (aqueous) acetone prior to fractionation. Pre-extraction removed organic extractives as well as minerals, primarily reducing acid dose requirements for fractionation and loss of hemicellulose sugars by degradation and improved the purity of the isolated lignin. We show how pre-extraction affects the effectiveness of the biorefinery process, including detailed mass balances for pretreatment, downstream processing, and product characteristics, and how it affects solvent and energy use with a first conceptual process design. The integrated biorefining approach allows for the improved compatibility of biorefineries with sustainable feedstock supply chains, enhanced biomass valorization (i.e., isolation of bioactive compounds from the extract), and more effective biomass processing with limited variation in product quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan T. Smit
- Unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies Group, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - André van Zomeren
- Unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies Group, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Karla Dussan
- Unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies Group, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Luke A. Riddell
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter J. J. Huijgen
- Unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies Group, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wilco Dijkstra
- Unit
Energy Transition, Biobased & Circular Technologies Group, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx
- Organic
Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Duval A, Layrac G, van Zomeren A, Smit AT, Pollet E, Avérous L. Isolation of Low Dispersity Fractions of Acetone Organosolv Lignins to Understand their Reactivity: Towards Aromatic Building Blocks for Polymers Synthesis. ChemSusChem 2021; 14:387-397. [PMID: 33006437 PMCID: PMC7821138 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202001976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Two organosolv lignins extracted during pilot runs of the Fabiola process were analyzed, fractionated and chemically modified with ethylene carbonate (EC) to produce building blocks suitable for polymer synthesis. Isolation of low dispersity fractions relied on the partial solubility of the lignins in organic solvents. Lignins solubility was first evaluated and analyzed with Hansen and Kamlet-Taft solubility parameters, showing a good correlation with the solvents dipolarity/polarizability parameter π*. The results were then used to select a sequence of solvents able to fractionate the lignins into low dispersity fractions of increasing molar masses, which were analyzed by 31 P NMR, SEC and DSC. The lignins were then reacted with EC, to convert the phenolic OH groups into primary aliphatic OH groups. The reactivity of the organosolv lignins was high, and milder reaction conditions than previously reported were sufficient to fully convert the phenolic OH groups. A gradual reduction in reactivity with increasing molar mass was evidenced and attributed to reduced solubility of high molar mass fragments in EC. Undesirable crosslinking side reactions were evidenced by SEC, but were efficiently limited thanks to a fine control of the reaction conditions, helping to maximize the benefits of the developed lignin modification with EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Duval
- BioTeam/ICPEES-ECPMUMR CNRS 7515Université de Strasbourg25 rue Becquerel67087Strasbourg Cedex 2France
| | - Géraldine Layrac
- BioTeam/ICPEES-ECPMUMR CNRS 7515Université de Strasbourg25 rue Becquerel67087Strasbourg Cedex 2France
| | | | - Arjan T. Smit
- TNO-Energy TransitionWesterduinweg 31755 LEPetten (TheNetherlands
| | - Eric Pollet
- BioTeam/ICPEES-ECPMUMR CNRS 7515Université de Strasbourg25 rue Becquerel67087Strasbourg Cedex 2France
| | - Luc Avérous
- BioTeam/ICPEES-ECPMUMR CNRS 7515Université de Strasbourg25 rue Becquerel67087Strasbourg Cedex 2France
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Smit AT, Huijgen WJJ. The promotional effect of water-soluble extractives on the enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis of pretreated wheat straw. Bioresour Technol 2017; 243:994-999. [PMID: 28753744 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis of pretreated wheat straw pulp to glucose is enhanced when the hydrolysis is performed in the presence of an aqueous extract of the wheat straw. A relative digestibility increase of about 10% has been observed for organosolv, alkaline and dilute acid pretreated wheat straw pulp (enzyme dose 2.5FPU/g pulp). At lower enzyme doses, the extract effect increases leading to an enzyme dose reduction of 40% to obtain a glucose yield of 75% within 48h using organosolv wheat straw pulp. Possibly, cellulase deactivation by irreversible binding to pulp lignin is reduced by competition with proteins in the extract. However, since the extract effect has also been demonstrated for lignin-lean substrates, other effects like improved accessibility of the pulp cellulose (amorphogenesis) cannot be excluded. Overall, this contribution demonstrates the positive effect of biomass extractives on enzymatic cellulose digestibility, thereby reducing costs for 2G biofuels and bio-based chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Smit
- Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Biomass & Energy Efficiency, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands.
| | - W J J Huijgen
- Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Biomass & Energy Efficiency, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
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Galkin MV, Smit AT, Subbotina E, Artemenko KA, Bergquist J, Huijgen WJJ, Samec JSM. Hydrogen-free catalytic fractionation of woody biomass. ChemSusChem 2016; 9:3280-3287. [PMID: 27860308 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201600648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The pulping industry could become a biorefinery if the lignin and hemicellulose components of the lignocellulose are valorized. Conversion of lignin into well-defined aromatic chemicals is still a major challenge. Lignin depolymerization reactions often occur in parallel with irreversible condensation reactions of the formed fragments. Here, we describe a strategy that markedly suppresses the undesired condensation pathways and allows to selectively transform lignin into a few aromatic compounds. Notably, applying this strategy to woody biomass at organosolv pulping conditions, the hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were separated and in parallel the lignin was transformed into aromatic monomers. In addition, we were able to utilize a part of the lignocellulose as an internal source of hydrogen for the reductive lignin transformations. We hope that the presented methodology will inspire researchers in the field of lignin valorization as well as pulp producers to develop more efficient biomass fractionation processes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim V Galkin
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arjan T Smit
- Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Biomass & Energy Efficiency, Westerduinweg 3, 1755, LE, Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Subbotina
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Konstantin A Artemenko
- Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-BMC, Uppsala University, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Bergquist
- Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-BMC, Uppsala University, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wouter J J Huijgen
- Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Biomass & Energy Efficiency, Westerduinweg 3, 1755, LE, Petten, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph S M Samec
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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Wildschut J, Smit AT, Reith JH, Huijgen WJJ. Ethanol-based organosolv fractionation of wheat straw for the production of lignin and enzymatically digestible cellulose. Bioresour Technol 2013; 135:58-66. [PMID: 23186666 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2012] [Revised: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Wheat straw fractionation by ethanol organosolv was studied as pretreatment for enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis. A parametric study focusing on temperature, reaction time, acid catalyst dose, solvent concentration, and particle size was performed to determine their influence on delignification, xylan hydrolysis, and enzymatic cellulose digestibility. Major process parameters were found to be temperature, ethanol concentration, and acid dose. Optimisation of the process towards enzymatic digestibility resulted in a maximum glucose yield of 86% without the use of a catalyst (lignin yield 84%, organosolv at 210 °C, 50% w/w aqueous EtOH). Using 30 mM H2SO4 as catalyst resulted in similar glucose and lignin yields at a lower temperature (190 °C, 60% w/w aqueous EtOH). Lowering the pretreatment temperature by using an acid catalyst substantially improved the yield of the hemicellulose derivatives xylose and furfural. A systematic approach in pretreatment optimisation is vital for development of efficient lignocellulosic biorefineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Wildschut
- Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Biomass & Energy Efficiency, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG, Petten, The Netherlands
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Huijgen WJJ, Smit AT, de Wild PJ, den Uil H. Fractionation of wheat straw by prehydrolysis, organosolv delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis for production of sugars and lignin. Bioresour Technol 2012; 114:389-398. [PMID: 22446052 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/29/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Wheat straw was fractionated using a three-step biorefining approach: (1) aqueous pretreatment for hemicellulose prehydrolysis into sugars, (2) organosolv delignification, and (3) enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis into glucose. Prehydrolysis was applied to avoid degradation of hemicellulose sugars during organosolv delignification. Maximum xylose yield obtained was 67% or 0.17 kg/kg straw (prehydrolysis: 175 °C, 30 min, 20mM H(2)SO(4)) compared to 4% in case of organosolv without prehydrolysis (organosolv: 200 °C, 60 min, 60% w/w aqueous ethanol). Prehydrolysis was found to reduce the lignin yield by organosolv delignification due to the formation of 'pseudo-lignin' and lignin recondensation during prehydrolysis. This reduction could partly be compensated by increasing the temperature of the organosolv delignification step. Prehydrolysis substantially improved the enzymatic cellulose digestibility from 49% after organosolv without prehydrolysis to 80% (20 FPU/g substrate). Increasing the organosolv delignification temperature to 220 °C resulted in a maximum enzymatic glucose yield of 93% or 0.36 kg/kg straw.
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Affiliation(s)
- W J J Huijgen
- Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands (ECN), Biomass & Energy Efficiency, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands.
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Zakzeski J, Grisel RJH, Smit AT, Weckhuysen BM. Solid acid-catalyzed cellulose hydrolysis monitored by in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy. ChemSusChem 2012; 5:430-437. [PMID: 22315193 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201100631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The solid acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose was studied under elevated temperatures and autogenous pressures using in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy. Standards of cellulose and pure reaction products, which include glucose, fructose, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), levulinic acid (LA), formic acid, and other compounds, were measured in water under ambient and elevated temperatures. A combination of spectroscopic and HPLC analysis revealed that the cellulose hydrolysis proceeds first through the disruption of the glycosidic linkages of cellulose to form smaller cellulose molecules, which are readily observed by their distinctive C-O vibrational stretches. The continued disruption of the linkages in these oligomers eventually results in the formation and accumulation of monomeric glucose. The solid-acid catalyst accelerated the isomerization of glucose to fructose, which then rapidly reacted under hydrothermal conditions to form degradation products, which included HMF, LA, formic acid, and acetic acid. The formation of these species could be suppressed by decreasing the residence time of glucose in the reactor, reaction temperature, and contact with the metal reactor. The hydrolysis of regenerated cellulose proceeded faster and under milder conditions than microcrystalline cellulose, which resulted in increased glucose yield and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Zakzeski
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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