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Bionic Liquids from Lignin for biofuel

Date:August 18, 2014

Country: United States

Plant Name:

    Plants

    Trees

Residue Name:

    Lignin

End Products

Biochemicals

Bionic Liquids,Fermentable Sugars

Fuel

Biofuel

Application

  • The bionic liquids developed can be used for efficient biomass deconstruction in biofuel production, improving the economics of biofuel refineries and enabling sustainable, cost-effective biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials.

Description

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) developed "bionic liquids" made from lignin and hemicellulose, by-products of biofuel production. These solvents show promise in efficiently breaking down lignocellulosic biomass like switchgrass into fermentable sugars, crucial for advanced biofuels. Bionic liquids can replace expensive, non-renewable ionic liquids, improving the economics of biofuel production. The process, tested on switchgrass, achieved sugar yields of 90-95% for glucose and 70-75% for xylose. This innovation supports a closed-loop bio-refinery system, making biofuel production more sustainable and cost-effective.

Pathway Description:

The process for conversion in this project involves synthesizing bionic liquids from lignin and hemicellulose, byproducts of biofuel production, using reductive amination and phosphoric acid. These bionic liquids are used to pretreat biomass, such as switchgrass, effectively deconstructing it and releasing fermentable sugars like glucose and xylose with high yields. This method replaces expensive, petroleum-based ionic liquids with renewable, cost-effective alternatives. The process supports a closed-loop biorefinery by reusing waste lignin to produce more bionic liquids.

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Tags: Bionic Liquids from LigninLignin-Based SolventsFermentable Sugars for biofuel

End Products

Biochemicals

Bionic Liquids,Fermentable Sugars

Fuel

Biofuel

Feedstock

Types of Feedstock

Secondary agricultural feedstock

Name

Lignin and Hemicellulose

Form

Polymeric solids

Commercials

Inexpensive by-products of lignocellulosic biomass processing

Logistics

Collected as waste streams from biorefineries or agricultural industries

Pathways

Chemical

Reductive amination

Stakeholders

Research/ Innovators

Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI)