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Optimization and characterization studies on ecopolyol production from solvothermal acid-catalyzed liquefaction of sugar beet pulp using response surface methodology

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Abstract

The valorization of biomass has become extremely important for the polymer industry to struggle with the depletion of oil. Solvothermal liquefaction is one method where the biomass can be converted to a useful ecopolyol. However, the conventional liquefaction process causes losses of time, material, and energy. This study aims at optimizing the liquefaction process of sugar beet pulp (SBP) using a response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD), as well as giving detailed insights into the physicochemical properties of the obtained ecopolyols. The synthesized ecopolyols were analyzed in terms of hydroxyl number, acid number, viscosity, and water content, and their structural properties characterized using infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. It was determined that the reaction temperature and catalyst loading were more important parameters than the reaction time on the liquefaction yield (LY) according to the ANOVA results (95% confidence level). The optimum conditions of solvothermal liquefaction for SBP, confirming through validation experiments, were 4.25% catalyst loading, a reaction time of 70 min, and a reaction temperature of 170 °C, resulting in a LY of 95%. The results show that the effect of reaction temperature and catalyst loading on hydroxyl number is more dominant than the reaction time, the most determinant parameter of acid number is catalyst loading, and the most determinant parameter of viscosity is the reaction temperature. The ecopolyols produced under optimal conditions display similar characteristic features (a 29.9±1.1 mg KOH/g acid number, a 299.8±3.6 mg KOH/g hydroxyl number, a 643.8±23.7 cP viscosity at 25 °C, and a 2.1±0.5% water content) to those of petroleum-based polyols widely preferred in the industry of polyurethane foam.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge with appreciation the Flokser Textile Company for conducting the analysis of water content of ecopolyols.

Funding

This study was funded by Eskisehir Technical University Scientific Research Projects Commission under grant no 20DRP063.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Eskisehir Technical University, Yunusemre Campus, 26470, Tepebasi/Eskisehir, Turkey

    Murat Erdem & Emre Akdogan

  2. Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Eskisehir Technical University, Yunusemre Campus, 26470, Tepebasi/Eskisehir, Turkey

    Alper Bekki

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  1. Murat Erdem
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Correspondence to Emre Akdogan.

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Erdem, M., Akdogan, E. & Bekki, A. Optimization and characterization studies on ecopolyol production from solvothermal acid-catalyzed liquefaction of sugar beet pulp using response surface methodology. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 13, 6925–6940 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01579-7

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