71. Kumar, Sandeep; Gupta, Ram B.. Biocrude Production from Switchgrass Using Subcritical Water. Energy & Fuels (2009), 23(10), 5151-5159.
Abstract
Subcrit. water is an
environmentally attractive solvent for org. matters and can be used to
liquefy biomass to biocrude, which is a mixt. of oxygenated
hydrocarbons of varying mol. wts. Liquefaction of switchgrass in
subcrit. water is studied using a semicontinuous reactor in the temp.
range of 235-260C. Subcrit. water is pumped through a tubular
reactor packed with switchgrass particles of 40-60 mesh size. The
effects of reaction temp. and catalysis by K2CO3 are examd.
Potassium carbonate significantly enhances the hydrolysis of
macromoleculer components of switchgrass into water-sol.
products. More than 50 wt % of the org. carbon available in
switchgrass was converted to biocrude after 20 min of steady operation
at 235C in the presence of 0.15 wt % of K2CO3. At the high temp.
(260C), dehydration of biomass was favored over hydrolysis
reactions. On the basis of chromatog. and mass spectrometry
analyses, biocrude contains lignin derived products, sugars, and its
decompn. products. On the basis of the IR spectroscopy and
electron microscopy of residue solid, the subcrit. water treatment
causes complete breakdown of lignocellulosic structure of
switchgrass. In fact, the residue solid mainly contained lignin
fractions.
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