| Popis: |
Ozonolysis has proved its efficiency as a lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment, improving the production of second-generation biofuels such as ethanol, methane and hydrogen. Ozone is a powerful oxidant, highly reactive toward compounds with high electron densities, such as lignin. Ozone solubilizes and degrades the lignin and modifies the biomass structure, improving the yield of released sugar. The principal inhibitors generated from the ozonolysis of biomass are acetic, formic, and oxalic acids, whereas furfural and 5-hidroxymethylfurfural have not been detected. The inhibitors are efficiently removed by water washing. Process parameters such as reactor design, moisture, particle size, pH, ozone concentration, ozone/air flow and reaction time have a remarkable influence on process efficiency through factors such as ozone consumption, composition of the pretreated biomass, yields of sugar release and the formation of inhibitory compounds. Additional research is necessary to optimize ozonolysis pretreatment and achieve economic feasibility for the process by applying the biorefinery concept. |
