Production and separation of value-added compounds from pine wood using pyrolysis and biorefinery techniques

Value-added compounds were obtained from pine wood bio-oil, converting it into a renewable source for several chemicals: acids (acetic acid), sugars (levoglucosan), furan derivatives (furfural) and phenolics (catechol, phenol, 4-propylguaiacol, vanillin). To achieve this, firstly comparison of direct pyrolysis at 500 °C versus two-staged (300 °C) was made. It determined that ensue in the obtainment less complex liquid fractions since concentrates families different phases facilitating their subsequent separation. Secondly, two methodologies (A B) designed to establish procedure separating various chemical groups present bio-oil. Methodology A consisted first vacuum distillation followed by an extraction process combined alkaline simple with ethyl acetate. B trioctylamine acetate hot water. The results showed methodology better separation obtaining one fraction carboxylic acid content derivatives, second containing phenolic third enriched sugar content.