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Conversion of lignocellulose into biochar and furfural through boron complexation and esterification reactions
Jingfa Zhang1, Ahmed Koubaa2, Dan Xing2
1Key Laboratory of Bio-based Materials Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda J9X 5E4, Québec, Canada.
Abstract:
The aim of this work was to study the conversion of lignocellulose into biochar and furfural through boron complexation and esterification reaction. Boric acid was used to modify lignocellulose to obtain a high biochar yield boron-lignocellulosic material through complexation and esterification reactions. Furthermore, clean furfural was obtained as the gas products of boron-lignocellulosic materials pyrolysis. The structures of the boron-lignocellulosic materials were characterized, and their compound principle was revealed. Boric acid treatments increased the initial thermal degradation temperature of lignocellulose and promoted the formation of biochar and furfural. The biochar yield rate increased by 135.7% from 18.6 to 42.9% at 600 ℃ after 5% boric acid solution treatment. Compared with pure lignocellulose, cleaner and higher quantities of furfural were obtained from boron-lignocellulose pyrolysis. Finally, the possible chemical decomposition pathways of boron-lignocellulosic materials were identified. This study provides a new perspective on the thermochemical conversion of lignocellulose to furfural and biochar.
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