Abstract
Through a series of case studies it is demonstrated that microwave dielectric heating can be a powerful tool to recover and synthesize valuable molecules from a wide range of biomass types. In addition, under microwave irradiation the production of chemicals from biomass proceeds at markedly lower temperatures (up to 150 °C) compared to conventional heating. This has a secondary benefit in that molecules with a high degree of functionality are produced while conventional heating tends to produce a great proportion of lower value gases. Furthermore, the technical set-up of a microwave reactor can easily accommodate for an in-situ separation of acids and valuable products therewith improving the shelf life of the latter. The benefits of combining hydrothermal conditions with microwave irradiation are also illustrated. In addition, a specialized case of selective heating in a biphasic reaction system is discussed, allowing for improved yields and selectivity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 80-89 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Catalysis Today |
Volume | 239 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Biomass
- Chemicals
- Energy
- Hydrolysis
- Microwaves
- Pyrolysis