Chemical and energetic characterization of species with a high-biomass production: Fractionation of their components

In this work, we determined the properties of cellulose pulp and paper from six different lignocellulosic materials [Eucalyptus globulus, Arundo donax, Leucaena diversifolia, Paulownia fortunei, sunflower stalks, and Chamaecytisus proliferus (tagasaste)], as well as the heating value and chemical composition of their autohydrolysis liquor, with a view to assessing their potential for the obtainment of energy, sugars, and other chemical products. An integral fractionation method based on autohydrolysis and organosolv delignification was used for this purpose. L. diversifolia, P. fortunei, a Paulownia “trihybrid” consisting of elongata, tormentosa, and fortunei varieties; sunflower stalks; and C. proliferus exhibited holocellulose, glucan, xylan, and acetyl group contents similar to, or higher than, those of E. globulus, A. donax, and various other lignocellulosic materials. The amounts of oligomers extracted from C. proliferus, P. fortunei, L. diversifolia, and sunflower stalks at the highest temperatures studied exceeded those provided by eucalyptus. Sequential autohydroysis and organosolv delignification of L. diversifolia and C. proliferus provided cellulose pulp with an acceptable kappa number and paper sheets with good strength‐related properties. P. fortunei was the most interesting raw material among those tested; in fact, it provided ethanol pulp with a lignin content of 3.7− 15.3% and a kappa number of 40.5–74.1 after autohydrolysis at 190°C, and paper with a tensile index of 17.0–28.9 kN m/kg. These properties are similar to those of pulp and paper from eucalyptus wood. In addition, P. fortunei exhibited the highest heating value among the studied materials (4683.8 cal/g). © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2010