Kinetic Studies and Optimization of Heterogeneous Catalytic Oxidation Processes for the Green Biorefinery of Wood

Summary

In the present work, a kinetic study and optimization of the process of spruce wood peroxide oxidation in “acetic acid–water” medium in the presence of suspended TiO2 catalyst at temperatures 70–100 °C were accomplished for the first time. The effect of wood species and organic solvent nature on the features of the processes of catalytic peroxide fractionation of wood biomass on microcrystalline cellulose and soluble organic products from lignin and hemicelluloses is described. Solid products of wood peroxide oxidation were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, solid state 13C CP-MAS NMR and soluble products were identified by GC–MS. The experimental optimization of the process of birch wood oxidation by oxygen in “water–alkaline” medium in the presence of suspended Cu(OH)2 catalyst was carried out at temperature range 160–180 °C. The scheme of biorefinery of birch wood, based on catalytic oxidative fractionation of wood biomass with the production of pentosans, vanillin, syringaldehyde and levulinic acid was developed. The resulting products are in demand in many areas, including food, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic industries, synthesis of new functional and biodegradable polymers.