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Qualitative Characterization of the Aqueous Fraction from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Using 2D Gas Chromatography with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

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An Ionic Liquid-Based Biorefinery Approach for Duckweed Utilization.

Anton E J Firth¹, Pedro Y S Nakasu¹, Paul S Fennell¹

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.

ACS Sustainable Resource Management

|May 29, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Ionic liquid pretreatment of duckweed biomass shows high starch recovery and sugar release, outperforming traditional lignocellulosic materials. While protein solubilization is significant, recovery is limited, and metal extraction needs further optimization.

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Area of Science:

Biomass Pretreatment
Ionic Liquids
Aquatic Biomass Utilization

Background:

Duckweed biomass offers unique properties for biorefining, including metal, starch, and protein accumulation.
Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising solvents for biomass pretreatment due to their tunable properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish a foundation for ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment of duckweed biomass.
To optimize an IL-based process for duckweed, focusing on starch recovery, sugar release, protein solubilization, and metal extraction.

Main Methods:

Investigated two ILs: dimethylethanolammonium formate ([DMEtA][HCOO]) and N,N-dimethylbutylammonium hydrogen sulfate ([DMBA][HSO4]).
Pretreated two duckweed species (Spirodela polyrhiza and Lemna minor).
Evaluated starch recovery, sugar release, protein recovery, and metal extraction efficiency.

Main Results:

Near-quantitative starch recovery achieved with [DMEtA][HCOO] at 120 °C and [DMBA][HSO4] at 90 °C within 2 hours.
Saccharification yields exceeded 90% after 8 hours of hydrolysis, surpassing traditional lignocellulosic biomass.
Protein solubilization ranged from 50-80 wt%, but recovery was hindered by low molecular weight.
[DMEtA][HCOO] showed higher nickel removal (81%) compared to [DMBA][HSO4] (28%).

Conclusions:

Duckweed is a viable feedstock for IL-based pretreatment, yielding high starch and sugar recovery.
ILs show potential for concurrent metal extraction, but further optimization is required.
Low molecular weight of solubilized duckweed protein limits its recovery in IL systems.