Sequential fractionation of sugarcane bagasse using liquid hot water and formic acid-catalyzed glycerol-based organosolv with solvent recycling

A fractionation scheme for lignocellulosic biomass where major constituent biopolymers are recovered in applicable forms is essential for integrated biorefinery. In this study, a sequential two-step fractionation of sugarcane bagasse using liquid hot water followed an organic acid-catalyzed aqueous glycerol-based organosolv process was developed. Under optimal conditions, 66.1% of the hemicellulose was recovered as saccharides by the acid-catalyzed hydrothermal step. Formic acid was superior to H(2)SO(4)and HNO(3)as a catalyst for the subsequent organosolv step using aqueous glycerol in terms of delignification efficiency and selectivity, resulting in a maximum of 78.3% lignin recovery after acetone extraction with > 90% purity and better conservation of aromatic subunit structure according to 2D-NMR. The majority of cellulose (86.4%) was retained as a solid with high purity (74.8%) and enzymatic digestibility, resulting in 78.2% glucose recovery. The formic acid-aqueous glycerol-spent liquor could be recycled for at least four consecutive batches with no significant decrease in product yield or selectivity. The work represents an efficient sequential process for fractionation of lignocellulose-derived components which allowed solvent recycling and recovery of high-purity lignin with conserved subunit structure. The separated product streams are suitable for valorization in biorefinery.

Automated summary

A sequential two-step fractionation process was developed in this study for efficient recovery of major constituent biopolymers in lignocellulosic biomass, with solvent recycling and high-purity lignin recovery. The separated product streams are suitable for valorization in biorefinery.