Issue 15, 2023

Hydrocarbons from kraft pulp pre-hydrolysis liquors in two steps using heterogeneous catalysis

Abstract

Valorizing industrial side-streams that are burnt to a low value are important to make biorefining more sustainable. In this work, hemicellulose obtained as a pre-hydrolysis liquor from kraft pulping was converted to furfural in a 19 wt% yield based on hemicellulose content in raw biomass using a beta zeolite as a catalyst. Furfural was then directly hydro-processed to yield pentane and higher hydrocarbons in 60%. It was found that a combination of Pd/C and ZSM-5 gave full hydrodeoxygenation. Depending on reaction conditions, aromatic or aliphatic compounds could be generated. By using pentane as a carrier liquid, a 100% renewable hydrocarbon stream is possible. Off gases, comprising <C5 hydrocarbons (23% yield), could be reformed to green hydrogen to yield renewable hydrocarbon products. This way, the pulp mill is de-bottlenecked and thus can increase the production of pulp, and at the same time, another valuable product stream is generated.

Graphical abstract: Hydrocarbons from kraft pulp pre-hydrolysis liquors in two steps using heterogeneous catalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 5 2023
Accepted
12 6 2023
First published
14 6 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3637-3643

Hydrocarbons from kraft pulp pre-hydrolysis liquors in two steps using heterogeneous catalysis

D. Lebedeva and J. S. M. Samec, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023, 7, 3637 DOI: 10.1039/D3SE00616F

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