[Sumac (Rhus chinensis Mill) biomass refinery engineering]

Area of Science:

• Biomass refining
• Sustainable resource utilization
• Chemical engineering

Background:

• Sumac (Rhus chinensis Mill) is a widespread Chinese plant with low oil content, making traditional processing difficult.
• Atypical oil plants present challenges for conventional vegetable oil production technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a novel sumac biomass refinery model and an integrated eco-industrial chain.
• To develop a sustainable processing technology for sumac biomass.
• To explore the potential of sumac as a source for diverse valuable products.

Main Methods:

• Development of a sumac biomass refinery technology system.
• Integration of steam explosion as a key pretreatment technology.
• Application of component fractionation and conversion technologies based on functional features.

Main Results:

• Successful production of eight distinct products: sumac fruit oil, biodiesel, protein feed, flavonoids, unbleached facial tissue, phenolic resin, biomass briquette, and biogas.
• Sumac fruit oil extracted via steam explosion pretreatment was approved as a new food resource.
• Demonstration of a viable eco-industrial chain for sumac biomass utilization.

Conclusions:

• The developed sumac biomass refinery offers a new model for processing atypical wild plant resources.
• This approach enhances the value of sumac, contributing to sustainable development and resource diversification.
• The integrated technology system provides a framework for similar biomass valorization initiatives.