Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
Performing Department
PACKAGING
Non Technical Summary
Lignocellulosic biomasses from forestry and agricultural operations are at the heart of the rapidly evolving bioeconomy with their crucial applications in bioenergy, chemicals, and bioproducts. The fractionation of biomass allows to individually and efficiently utilize cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. However, the existing biomass fractionation processes mostly (1) are energy intensive, (2) need high-pressure reactors, (3) are unable to effectively stabilize and fully retain cellulose and hemicellulose sugars, and (4) are unable to effectively stabilize and task-specifically functionalize lignin.The proposed research aims to develop two energy-efficient and atmospheric-pressure biomass fractionation platforms that stabilize and functionalize carbohydrates and lignin. The proposed two biomass fractionation platforms are uniquely enabled by readily-recyclable and high-performance hydroxyl- or aldehyde-containing acids (fractionating biomass into carbohydrates and lignin) and inexpensive alcohols or functional aldehydes (in-situ stabilizing and functionalizing carbohydrates and lignin into tailor-made multiple products). The proposed two energy-efficient and atmospheric-pressure biomass fractionation platforms can be conventional solution-based processes and solution-free processes. The success of this project will help address economical, technical, and environmental challenges in the fractionation and utilization of biomass by greatly reducing energy (no biomass size reduction and no high-temperature operations), chemical (solution-free process), and capital (no miller and high-pressure reactor) inputs and enabling full and value-added biomass utilization.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to develop two energy-efficient and atmospheric-pressure biomass fractionation platforms that stabilize and functionalize carbohydrates and lignin. The proposed platforms at mild conditions through conventional solution-based processes and solution-free processes (significantly less chemical and energy inputs) can 1) fractionate various biomasses without the prior size reduction, 2) fully retain cellulose as high-purity fibers, and 3) effectively stabilize and task-specifically functionalize lignin and hemicellulose sugars. This project has four objectives: (1) develop biomass fractionation platform I that stabilizes carbohydrates and lignin using hydroxyl-containing acids and alcohols, (2) develop biomass fractionation platform II that stabilizes and functionalizes carbohydrates and lignin using aldehyde-containing acids or hydroxyl-containing acids and aldehydes, (3) elucidate working mechanisms of developed fractionation platforms, and (4) evaluate techno-economic feasibility of developed fractionation platforms.
Project Methods
The proposed research has the following four objectives. Objective 1: develop biomass fractionation platform I that stabilizes carbohydrates and lignin using hydroxyl-containing acids and alcohols. Series of hydroxyl-containing acids will be first developed. Biomass fractionation platform I will be developed using hydroxyl-containing acids as catalyst and non-aqueous or aqueous alcohols as solvent and stabilizer. The developed platform I will be used to fractionate various biomasses via solution-based and solution-free processes into celluloses, uncondensed lignins, light-colored lignins, and hemicellulose sugars and their derivatives. The biomass fractionation experimental conditions will be optimized using the Response Surface Methodology to achieve energy-efficient and near-complete fractionations. Material (biomass, chemicals, solvents) balances will be established for the investigated biomass fractionation systems. Biomass and the obtained products will be comprehensively characterized. Hemicellulose sugars will be recovered by hydrolysis of hemicellulose sugar derivatives. Acids will be recycled for reuse. The corrosion of the biomass fractionation systems will be evaluated. Objective 2: develop biomass fractionation platform II that stabilizes and functionalizes carbohydrates and lignin using aldehyde-containing acids or hydroxyl-containing acids and aldehydes. Series of aldehyde-containing acids will be first developed. Biomass fractionation platform II will be developed using either aldehyde-containing acids as catalyst, stabilizer, and functionalizing agent or hydroxyl-containing acids as catalyst and aldehydes as stabilizer and functionalizing agent. The developed platform II will be used to fractionate various biomasses via solution-based and solution-free processes into celluloses, uncondensed lignins, water-soluble lignins, phenolated lignins, and hemicellulose sugars and their derivatives. Energy-efficient and near-complete biomass fractionations will be achieved by optimizations. Material (biomass, chemicals, solvents) balances will be established. The obtained products will be comprehensively characterized. Antioxidant properties of phenolated lignins will be evaluated. The hemicellulose sugars derivatives will be applied to develop organogels and polyesters. Alternatively, hemicellulose sugars will be recovered by hydrolysis of hemicellulose sugar derivatives. Acids will be recycled for reuse. The corrosion of the biomass fractionation systems will be evaluated. Objective 3: working mechanisms of developed biomass fractionation platforms. The interactions between biomass (or individual component) and acid will be measured using multiple experimental techniques (gravimetric, fiber saturation, adsorption, NMR titration). Model studies will be conducted to understand kinetic depolymerization, etherification, and acetalization reactions that occurred to lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose in both solution-based and solution-free processes for biomass fractionation platforms. Objective 4: evaluate techno-economic feasibility of developed fractionation platforms. Products' market potential and value will be assessed. Process simulation and optimization will be performed using ASPEN Plus™ Process Simulator. Production cost estimation and capital investment analysis will be performed using nonparametric panel data regression models. Economic feasibility and sensitivity analysis will be performed using a feasibility space technique and cost-effectiveness analysis. Recommendations of optimal production processes, pricing strategies, and marketing approaches to improve profitability and sustainability of production will be provided.