New role of chromium fluoride: Its catalytic action on the synthesis of hydroxymethylfurfural in ionic liquid using raw plant biomass and characterization of biomass hydrolysis

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2012-01, Vol.180 (15), p.370-375
• Main Authors: Yi, Young-Byung, Ha, Myoung-Gyu, Lee, Jin-Woo, Chung, Chung-Han
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorbance; Biomass; Biomass hydrolysis; Catalysis; Catalysts; chemical engineering; chromium; Chromium fluoride; Chromium fluorides; FT-IR; Hydrolysis; Hydroxymethylfurfural; image analysis; Ionic liquid; Ionic liquids; Raw tapioca biomass; spectroscopy; starch; Starches; stoichiometry; sugars; tapioca
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2011.10.055

► We demonstrated CrF 3 is an excellent catalyst in the synthesis of HMF yield from raw tapioca biomass. ► The combination of CrF 3 and CrBr 3 showed 1.3-fold higher HMF yield than CrF 3 alone. ► Hydrolysis of the biomass was efficiently monitored by FT-IR and FESEM analysis. ► The key frequency of its hydrolysis was identified in 950–1200 cm −1 region by FT-IR. ► The highest reaction rate (0.41 g/g biomass/h) occurred at 0.2 ratio value. A simple two-step process was conducted to scrutinize new catalytic action of chromium fluoride (CrF 3) by evaluating its effect on the yield of hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) in ionic liquid (1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) using raw tapioca root biomass with high starch, and hydrolysis efficiency of the biomass extract was characterized by FT-IR spectrometry and FESEM image analysis. The FT-IR absorbance bands confirmed the presence of starch and other soluble sugars in the acidic biomass extract by presenting its frequency signals in the 950–1200 cm −1 regions. FESEM image showed that the efficiency of the biomass hydrolysis is time-dependent. The concentration of CrF 3 significantly affected the yield of HMF. Its highest yield (52.6 ± 4.8 dwt%) was achieved at 1% CrF 3, but over 1% CrF 3 its yields began to decline. The combined addition of CrF 3 and CrBr 3 showed ca. 1.3-fold higher yield than CrF 3 alone. The reaction rates of HMF synthesis were considerably influenced by the stoichiometry ratio of CrF 3 to biomass. The highest reaction rate (0.41 g/g biomass/h) occurred at 0.2 ratio value.