Gamma-valerolactone biorefinery: Catalyzed birch fractionation and valorization of pulping streams with solvent recovery
Marianna Granatier,
Huy Quang Lê,
Yibo Ma,
Marja Rissanen,
Inge Schlapp-Hackl,
Daryna Diment,
Anna Zaykovskaya,
Juha-Pekka Pokki,
Mikhail Balakshin,
Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen,
Ville Alopaeus,
Herbert Sixta
Affiliations
Marianna Granatier
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Huy Quang Lê
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Yibo Ma
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Marja Rissanen
Department of Materials Science, University of Tampere, Kuntokatu 3, 33520, Tampere, Finland
Inge Schlapp-Hackl
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Daryna Diment
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Anna Zaykovskaya
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Juha-Pekka Pokki
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Mikhail Balakshin
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Ville Alopaeus
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland
Herbert Sixta
School of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, Aalto University, Vuorimiehentie 1, 02150, Espoo, Finland; Corresponding author.
In this study, we propose a full gamma-valerolactone (GVL) organosolv biorefinery concept including the utilization of all pulping streams, solvent recovery, and preliminary material and energy balances. GVL is a renewable and non-toxic solvent that fractionates woody biomass. The silver birch chips were pulped (45–65 wt% GVL, 150 °C, 2 h) under a series of acid-catalyzed conditions (5–12 kg H2SO4/t), and the fully bleached pulp was spun into fibers by the IONCELL® process and knitted into the fabric. The dissolved lignin was precipitated by water from spent liquor (1:1) and processed into polyhydroxyurethane. Most of the dissolved hemicelluloses were in the form of xylose, therefore, the crystallization efficiency of xylose from spent liquor in the presence of residual GVL was studied. The GVL recovery rate in the lab column was 66%, however by increasing the number of equilibrium stages, 99% recovery could be achieved.
