Production of levulinic acid and biocarbon electrode material from corn stover through an integrated biorefinery process

To overcome the inefficient biomass conversion, waste generation, and lack of co-production in biorefineries, an integrated process was proposed for the conversion of corn stover into levulinic acid and biocarbon electrode material. Corn stover was pretreated through hydrothermal process using 0.45 ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fuel processing technology 2021-03, Vol.213, p.106644, Article 106644
Main Authors: Thakkar, Anuj, Shell, Katelyn M., Bertosin, Martino, Rodene, Dylan D., Amar, Vinod, Bertucco, Alberto, Gupta, Ram B., Shende, Rajesh, Kumar, Sandeep
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Biocarbon
Conversion
Corn Stover
Electrode materials
Glucan
Hydrolysis
Hydrothermal
Levulinic acid
Potassium carbonate
Reaction time
Refining
Sulfuric acid
Supercapacitor
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Summary:To overcome the inefficient biomass conversion, waste generation, and lack of co-production in biorefineries, an integrated process was proposed for the conversion of corn stover into levulinic acid and biocarbon electrode material. Corn stover was pretreated through hydrothermal process using 0.45 wt% K2CO3 which removed 76 wt% lignin and 85 wt% xylan while preserving 83 wt% glucan. This was followed by acid hydrolysis to produce levulinic acid at varying H2SO4 concentrations and reaction time in a batch reactor at 190 °C. At a reaction time of 5 min in 2 wt% H2SO4, 35.8 wt% and 30 wt% glucan in raw and pretreated corn stover was converted to levulinic acid, respectively. The residue from acid hydrolysis was converted into biocarbon for supercapacitor electrodes via a two-step thermal activation process which showed a specific capacitance of 120 F g−1. The proposed integrated biorefinery concept provides multiple value-added products for a greater financial and environmental sustainability. [Display omitted] •Semi-continuous pretreatment removed lignin and hemicellulose from corn stover•Hydrothermally pretreated biomass acid hydrolyzed to produce levulinic acid•Solid residue from acid hydrolysis of lignocellulose converted to biocarbon•Two-step thermal activation produced biocarbon with 120 F g−1 specific capacitance•Integrated biorefinery process developed for multiple value-added products
ISSN:0378-3820
1873-7188
DOI:10.1016/j.fuproc.2020.106644