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

Demirhan, Huseyin; Fauzi, Ahmad; Skoulou, Vassiliki; Haywood, Stephanie; 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., Haywood, S., & 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), 205-218. https://doi.org/10.2174/2213335604666170719113659

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 19, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Feb 4, 2018
• Print ISSN: 2213-3356
• Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 205-218
• 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/488191
• Publisher URL: https://www.eurekaselect.com/154315/article