Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment

Demirhan, Huseyin; Fauzi, Ahmad; Skoulou, Vassiliki K; Haywood, Stephanie H.; Zein, Sharif H.

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the microwave-assisted acid extraction of lignin from wheat straw.

Methods: Two experimental design methods, the Central Composite Design (CCD) and the Response Surface Method (RSM) methods were used to select conditions and optimise the process. The parameters studied were: the stirring rate, H2SO4 concentration, microwave radiation power and residence time.
Results: The optimum conditions found to achieve the maximum lignin yield (wt%) from wheat straw were: 0.46M H2SO4 under microwave radiation power of 602 W at 65% of stirring rate (3200rpm) and residence time of 39min. These conditions led to a delignification of 78.5% (by weight) of the parent lignin content, which accounted for 11.8wt% on dry biomass basis; this compares to a yield of 3.35wt% for the conventional H2SO4 pre-treatment method under similar conditions.
Conclusion: This work is a first step to demonstrate the potential of innovative microwave methods to overcome the high cost of acid extraction of lignin from biomass waste.

Citation

Demirhan, H., Fauzi, A., Skoulou, V. . K., Haywood, S. . . H., & Zein, S. . . H. (2017). Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment. Current Microwave Chemistry, 4(3), https://doi.org/10.2174/2213335604666170719113659

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 19, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 7, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 22, 2020
• Journal: Current Microwave Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 2213-3356
• Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/2213335604666170719113659
• Keywords: Biorefinery; Lignin; Microwave sulfuric acid extraction; RSM & CCD; Wheat straw
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/481559
• Publisher URL: http://www.eurekaselect.com/154315/article