Abstract
Lignocellulosic wastes constitute a significant portion of the municipal solid waste, which should be valorised for the synthesis of value-added chemicals to achieve circular bioeconomy. This study evaluates the use of γ-valerolactone (GVL) and acetone as green co-solvents to produce levulinic acid (LA) from lignocellulosic paper towel waste at different temperatures using dilute H2SO4. At the highest reaction temperature (200 °C), H2O-only system achieved ~15 Cmol% of LA at maximum. while GVL/H2O and acetone/H2O co-solvent systems enhanced the depolymerisation of paper towel waste and the subsequent conversion to LA, with the highest yield amounted to ~32 Cmol%. Acetone/H2O solvent system generated ~17 Cmol% LA at a lower temperature (180 °C), while higher temperature induced polymerisation of soluble sugars and intermediates, hindering further conversion to LA. In contrast, the availability of soluble sugars was higher in the GVL/H2O system, which favoured the production of LA at higher temperatures.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 122544 |
Journal | Bioresource Technology |
Volume | 298 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2020 |
Keywords
- Lignocellulosic biomass
- Paper waste management
- Sustainable biorefinery
- Waste valorisation
- γ-Valerolactone
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Waste Management and Disposal