Integrated biorefinery incorporating the one-pot production of esters, monophenols, and alkoxysilanes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Integrated biorefinery incorporating the one-pot production of esters, monophenols, and alkoxysilanes

AU - Feng, Shanshan

AU - Fan, Jiajun

AU - Sun, Qianxin

AU - Zheng, Wanping

AU - Hu, Changwei

AU - Clark, James H.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21536007), the 111 project (No. B17030), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. We acknowledge the help of Analysis and Test Center of Sichuan University. This project has received funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) under grant agreement No 887674. The JU receives support from the European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium. Funding Information: This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21536007), the 111 project (No. B17030), and the Have we correctly interpreted the following funding source(s) and country names you cited in your article: National Natural Science Foundation of China, China; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China?es. We acknowledge the help of Analysis and Test Center of Sichuan University. This project has received funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) under grant agreement No 887674. The JU receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2024/5/1

Y1 - 2024/5/1

N2 - An integrated biorefinery will transition towards a comprehensive refining and zero-waste utilization process of all the biomass components, including the largely wasted or ignored inorganics. Here, we report an effective process of combined valorization of both organic components and inorganics. Small molecules from carbohydrates (32.5 wt%) and lignin (22.5 wt%) were obtained under catalyst-free conditions, in addition to a large amount of alkoxysilanes (>80 mol%) from silicon in rice straw. The connection of silicon with other components in rice straw was probed with XPS etching, SEM mapping, and CP/MAS 29Si NMR, etc. Pretreatment of rice straw with physical, chemical, and biological methods helps us reveal the plant's active silicon. It was indicated that both organosilicon connected with organic components in rice straw and the inorganic silica deposited in silica cell exists in rice straw can be converted to alkoxysilanes. Furthermore, exogenous silica could be converted to alkoxysilanes directly when mixed with biomass, indicating a new conversion process. We also demonstrate efficient methods for separating and purifying tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and recycling the solvent. An ex-ante life-cycle assessment of the processes has been established. The ex-ante LCA supports the economic viability and predicts minimized waste and clean production of TEOS in the new process.

AB - An integrated biorefinery will transition towards a comprehensive refining and zero-waste utilization process of all the biomass components, including the largely wasted or ignored inorganics. Here, we report an effective process of combined valorization of both organic components and inorganics. Small molecules from carbohydrates (32.5 wt%) and lignin (22.5 wt%) were obtained under catalyst-free conditions, in addition to a large amount of alkoxysilanes (>80 mol%) from silicon in rice straw. The connection of silicon with other components in rice straw was probed with XPS etching, SEM mapping, and CP/MAS 29Si NMR, etc. Pretreatment of rice straw with physical, chemical, and biological methods helps us reveal the plant's active silicon. It was indicated that both organosilicon connected with organic components in rice straw and the inorganic silica deposited in silica cell exists in rice straw can be converted to alkoxysilanes. Furthermore, exogenous silica could be converted to alkoxysilanes directly when mixed with biomass, indicating a new conversion process. We also demonstrate efficient methods for separating and purifying tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and recycling the solvent. An ex-ante life-cycle assessment of the processes has been established. The ex-ante LCA supports the economic viability and predicts minimized waste and clean production of TEOS in the new process.

KW - Alkoxysilanes

KW - Esters

KW - Ex-ante LCA

KW - Monophenols

KW - Rice straw biorefinery

KW - Silica

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85190088483&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142185

DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142185

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85190088483

SN - 0959-6526

VL - 452

JO - Journal of Cleaner Production

JF - Journal of Cleaner Production

M1 - 142185

ER -