Catalytic Conversion Of Sugarcane Bagasse Into Furfural

The production of furfural, high-value-added platform chemicals, is hampered by the typical rndrawbacks of homogeneous acid catalysts, such as difficulty in separating the catalyst from the rnreaction mixture. As a result, developing a heterogeneous catalyst to overcome the limitations of rncurrent commercial processes is highly desirable. The carbon-based catalysts were synthesized rnby carbonizing and functionalizing teff-straw as a carbon precursor in concentrated sulfuric acid rnsimultaneously and showed the ability to dehydrate xylan/xylose to generate furfural. As shown rnby FTIR, the catalyst comprises functional groups such as –SOrn3rnivrn rnH, –COOH, and –OH, which are rnextremely beneficial to catalytic performance. The elemental analysis of the samples also rnconfirmed the successful attachment of sulfur to the carbon structure and XRD results, the rndiffraction peak at 2 from 15 to 30rnorn, depicted the amorphous nature of the catalyst prepared. rnExperimental runs, catalytic and thermal, were carried out over the prepared catalyst to rninvestigate catalytic activities such as overall conversion, selectivity, and catalyst stability. rnConversion of xylose to furfural was investigated using a Teff straw-based sulfonated catalyst rn(TSSC) in water/toluene as an extraction medium. A maximum furfural yield of 62.50% was rnobtained at 190°C for 20 min with 0.2g solid acid. rnBesides, hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse to xylose using a dilute sulfuric acid catalyst was rninvestigated. An optimum xylose yield of roughly 0.18g/g of dry bagasse was obtained in 32 rnminutes with 0.77% sulfuric acid at 143 °C. Model-Based Calibration Toolbox in MATLAB rnsoftware was used for the design of experiments, statistical modeling, and optimization. rnAlthough the combined effect of temperature, acid concentration, and time was positive towards rnthe formation of glucose and furfural, harsher treatment conditions showed negative effects on rnthe yield of xylose. The experimental data were analyzed to create a kinetic model for lignocellulosic biomass rnconversion to furfural using the synthesized catalyst. The kinetic model for the dehydration of rnxylose to furfural was developed using experimental data obtained based on the Central rncomposite design. The well-evaluated kinetic model matched well with the experimental data rnand kinetic parameters. The thermodynamic analysis suggested that the presence of toluene, in rnthe reaction system, as a solvent for instantaneous extraction of furfural enhanced furfural rnproduction while decreasing degradation rate as compared to water-only system.

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