Fractionation of Wheat Straw Catalyzed by Recyclable Terephthalic Acid

Here, we described an efficient method for the separation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin from the biomass. Solvent treatment in the presence of terephthalic acid was used to separate the lignin and hemicellulose fragments from the wheat straw. The obtained aqueous solution containing mostly xylooligomers, is free of the acid catalyst and the concentration of inhibitors in the solution which deteriorate the fermentation process is very low. About 50.9% of sugars present in the aqueous hydrolysate can be converted into microbial oils by Actinomucor elegans microorganisms. Terephthalic acid accumulated in the pulp enhances subsequent heteropoly acid H-4[PMo11VO40] catalyzed oxidative conversion of cellulose into formic acid.