Catalytic valorisation of the effluents generated during the defibrillation process of cellulose from almond hulls: A holistic zero-waste biorefinery approach

The acid-free hydrothermal microwave–assisted selective scissoring (Hymass concept) of cellulosic substrates is gaining keen interest in the field materials science. Besides, implementing catalytic methodologies to upgrade side streams produced during this process could contribute better, holistic utilisation starting feedstock. This work depicts a zero-waste biorefinery concept based on cellulose defibrillation from almond hulls using various hydrotreatment technologies (hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation) for downstream processing ruthenium catalyst. Therein, hemicellulose separated biomass preconditioning step was converted into sugar alcohols and/or marketable polyols with relatively high yield (47.4%) by hydrolytic hydrogenation (437 K, 3h, 5.0 MPa H2). Meanwhile, family bioactive compounds (3-hydroxypyridines) be directly extracted hydrolysate stream derived microwave digestion, along an energy carrier that chemically stabilised (503 60 min, 4.0 H2) obtain fuel additives (diethyl succinic acid, DES) intermediates.