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Preparation of biochar catalyst with saccharide and lignocellulose residues of corncob degradation for corncob hydrolysis into furfural

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Abstract

This paper presented a novel process for production of furfural by hydrothermal degradation of corncob over biochar catalyst, in which it was prepared with the recycling degradation solution and lignocellulosic solid residues. The biochar catalyst was papered by lignocellulose residues and concentrated saccharide solution, and then impregnated in 0.5 mol/L sulphuric acid at room temperature for 24 h assisted by the ultrasonic vibration. In the system of recycling, 8.8 % lignocellulose residues and 100 % concentrated saccharide solution from corncob hydrolysis have been recycled. Hydrolysis of corncob was carried out at 180 °C for duration of 170 min over the biochar catalyst. The experimental results have shown that the furfural yield of up to 37.75 % and overall corncob conversion rate of 62.00 % could be achieved under optimum operating conditions for the catalysts preparation and the corncob hydrolysis. It is believed that the acid density of 4.27 mmol/g of biochar catalyst makes the SO3H groups cleave β-1,4 glycosidic linkages effectively and hydrolyze the cellulose and hemicellulose to water-soluble sugars, as well as to facilitate dehydration of xylose to give the product of furfural.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20876032 and 21176055), Tianjin Key Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology (No. 11JCZDJC23600) and Application Bases and Key Research Program of Hebei Province (No. 11963924D). The authors would like to thank Professor Shusheng Pang, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, for valuable discussions and linguistic revision.

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  1. Hebei Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Technology and High Efficient Energy Saving, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China

    Qing-yan Liu, Fang Yang, Xiao-feng Sun, Zhi-hua Liu & Gang Li

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  1. Qing-yan Liu
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  2. Fang Yang
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  3. Xiao-feng Sun
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  4. Zhi-hua Liu
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  5. Gang Li
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Correspondence to Gang Li.

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Liu, Qy., Yang, F., Sun, Xf. et al. Preparation of biochar catalyst with saccharide and lignocellulose residues of corncob degradation for corncob hydrolysis into furfural. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 19, 134–143 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0392-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0392-9

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