Hydrothermal extraction of hemicellulose: from lab to pilot scale

Gianluca Gallina, Enrique Regidor Alfageme, Pierdomenico Biasi, Juan García-Serna

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    27 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A flow-through reactor for hemicelluloses extraction with hot pressurized water was scaled with a factor of 73. System performance was evaluated by comparing the temperature profile, extraction yield and kinetics of the two systems, performing experiments at 160 and 170 degrees C, 11 barg for 90 min, using catalpa wood as raw material. Hemicellulose yields were 33.9% and 38.8% (lab scale 160 degrees C and 170 degrees C) and 35.7% and 41.7% (pilot scale 160 degrees C and 170 degrees C). The pilot reactor was upgraded by designing a manifold system capable to provide samples with different liquid residence time during the same experiment. Tests at 140, 150, 160 and 170 degrees C were carried for 90 min. Increasing yields (9.3-40.6%) and decreasing molecular weights (4078-1417 Da) were obtained at increasing the temperature. Biomass/water ratio of 1/27 gave total average concentration of xylose of 0.4 g/L (140 degrees C) to 1.8 g/L (170 degrees C).
    Original languageUndefined/Unknown
    Pages (from-to)980–991
    Number of pages12
    JournalBioresource Technology
    Volume247
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • Pilot plant
    • Hydrothermal
    • Biorefinery

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