Hydrothermal Treatments Applied to Agro- and Forest-Industrial Waste to Produce High Added-Value Compounds

VALLEJOS, M. E.; FELISSIA, F. E.; AREA, M. C.

BIORESOURCES

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV DEPT WOOD & PAPER SCI

Lugar: Raleigh; Año: 2017 vol. 12

1930-2126

Agro- and forest-industrial wastes are abundantand low cost sources of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds, which can beconverted into biofuels, biomaterials, and high added-value compounds bydifferent pathways in small and large biorefineries. The development oftechnologies based on hydrothermal treatments could improve the utilization oflignocellulosic wastes through the separation of its components (cellulose,hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives) in sequential processes. The adoptedtechnologies for the separation and conversion of these lignocellulosic wastesinto synthesis intermediates or products of high added value represent animportant part of the total production cost. Low liquid to solid ratios andmild temperatures in the pre-treatment are interesting ways of reducing energycosts, subsequently economizing both steam and electricity. This work focuseson the advantages of using low liquid to solid ratios in the hydrothermaltreatment of different agro- and forest-industrial wastes, paying particularattention to the performance of separation, purification, and conversion ofhemicelluloses.