Identification and quantification of valuable platform chemicals in aqueous product streams from a preliminary study of a large pilot-scale steam explosion of woody biomass using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Steam explosion breaks down the polymeric matrix and enables recovery of valuable compounds from lignocellulosic feedstock. In steam process, biomass is treated with high-pressure which subsequently generates large quantities a condensed aqueous liquid (process effluent) filtered (filtrate) that contain furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 5-methylfurfural, methanol, acetic acid as major constituents. This study addresses identification quantification value-added chemicals in product streams using quantitative analytical nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy water suppression. work reports screening for two different types sawdust (Norway spruce birch) at scales (4 L 10 reactors) reaction temperatures (190–223 °C) corresponding pressures (13–24 bar), without addition SO 2 gas. The duration all experiments was 8 min. process effluents contained acid, formic furfural. Acetic (0.5 g/kg dry input biomass) furfural (1.0 were more abundant than 5-methylfurfural both feedstocks. increased yields, indicating efficient hydrolysis hemicelluloses under acidic conditions. Filtrate samples also highest concentrations (5.7–6.0 filtrates spruce. feedstocks strongly influenced overall yields target compounds, some cases tripling concentrations. results can be used to improve profit margins pellets biorefinery, demonstrated ArbaOne plant.