Humin based by-products from biomass processing as a potential carbonaceous source for synthesis gas productionElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4gc01324g

• Main Authors: Hoang, T. M. C, van Eck, E. R. H, Bula, W. P, Gardeniers, J. G. E, Lefferts, L, Seshan, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/c4gc01324g

Lignocellulosic biomass is addressed as potential sustainable feedstock for green fuels and chemicals. (Hemi)cellulose is the largest constituent of the material. Conversion of these polysaccharides to bio-based platform chemicals is important in green chemical/fuel production and biorefinery. Hydroxymethyl furfural, furfural and levulinic acid are substantial building blocks from (poly)saccharides. Synthesis of these molecules involves acid catalysed hydrolysis/dehydration reactions which leads large formation of insoluble by-products, called humins. Humin obtained from dehydration of glucose is used in this study. Fractionisation of humin was investigated using various solvents ( e.g. , acetone, H 2 O, and NaOH 1%). Characterisation of humin using various techniques including ATR-IR, HR-SEM, solid state NMR, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis, etc. confirms its furan rich structure with aliphatic oxygenate linkages. The influence of thermal treatment on humin was investigated. Humin undergoes a lot of changes both in morphology and structure. Humin loses ca. 45 wt% when preheated to 700 °C (prior to the gasification temperature) and contains above 92 wt% C in mainly aromatic/graphitic structures. Valorisation of humin via dry reforming was studied. Non-catalytic dry reforming of humin is very difficult; however, alkali catalysts ( e.g. Na 2 CO 3 ) can enhance the reaction rate tremendously. Valorisation of humin by-products: the chemical structure of humin and the evolution as well as reactivity of humin in dry reforming.