Optimization of a formic/acetic acid treatment of beech wood for lignin extraction

Lignocellulosic substrates are a promising alternative resource for the sustainable production of energy (biofuels), bio-based products and organic compounds. In the past, the extraction and recycling of cellulose (into fermentable glucose) constituted the central axis of lignocellulosic biorefinery processes. Degraded hemicelluloses and lignins were recovered as side-products with no possibilities of high-added value applications.
Within the context of an integrated biorefinery, and for economic reasons, the recovery and the non-energetic valorization of lignins have opened recently new horizons. Lignin is a cross-linked phenolic polymer and is considered as potential alternative to petrochemical polymers or as a source of antioxidants for cosmetics and food industry, resins, chelating agent...
As the final application of lignin depends on both extraction process and type of lignocellulosic sources, the development of fast and efficient physicochemical characterization methods is thus a prerequisite to optimize extraction processing conditions.
In this study, beech wood particles (Fagus sylvatica L.) are delignified at atmospheric pressure by a formic acid/acetic acid/water mixture. Firstly, response surface methodology is used to optimize cooking time and temperature for delignification, pulp yield and concentration of degradation products (2-furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural). The results highlight that best delignification is obtained in the highest cooking times and temperatures and that 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is produced during the formic/acetic acid treatment but is also degraded into 2-furfural.
With the aim to develop an integrated biorefinery approach, multi-criteria optimization is used to find ideal cooking time and temperature (5h07, 104.2°C) leading to the maximization of delignification and pulp yield and to the minimization of 2-furfural production
Finally, physicochemical and chemical structures of extracted lignins are found dependent on treatment conditions harshness.