Amidon Thomas E, Liu Shijie
Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States.
Biotechnol Adv. 2009 Sep-Oct;27(5):542-50. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2009.04.012. Epub 2009 Apr 22.
The conversion of biomass into chemicals and energy is essential in order to sustain our present way of life. Fossil fuels are currently the predominant energy source, but fossil deposits are limited and not renewable. Biomass is a reliable potential source of materials, chemicals and energy that can be replenished to keep pace with our needs. A biorefinery is a concept for the collection of processes used to convert biomass into materials, chemicals and energy. The biorefinery is a "catch and release" method for using carbon that is beneficial to both the environment and the economy. In this study, we discuss three elements of a wood-based biorefinery, as proposed by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF): hot-water extraction, hydrolysis, and membrane separation/concentration. Hemicelluloses are the most easily separable main component of woody biomass and thus form the bulk of the extracts obtained by hot-water extraction of woody biomass. Hot-water extraction is an important step in the processes of woody biomass and product generation, replacing alternative costly pre-treatment methods. The hydrolysis of hemicelluloses produces 5-carbon sugars (mainly xylose), 6-carbon sugars (mainly glucose and mannose), and acetic acid. The use of nano-filtration membranes is an efficient technology that can be employed to fractionate hot-water extracts and wood hydrolysate. The residual solid mass after hot-water extraction has a higher energy content and contains fewer easily degradable components. This allows for more efficient subsequent processing to convert cellulose and lignin into conventional products.
为维持我们目前的生活方式，将生物质转化为化学品和能源至关重要。化石燃料是目前的主要能源，但化石储量有限且不可再生。生物质是一种可靠的潜在材料、化学品和能源来源，可不断补充以满足我们的需求。生物精炼厂是一个用于将生物质转化为材料、化学品和能源的一系列过程的概念。生物精炼厂是一种利用碳的“捕获与释放”方法，对环境和经济都有益。在本研究中，我们讨论了纽约州立大学环境科学与林业学院（ESF）提出的木质生物精炼厂的三个要素：热水提取、水解和膜分离/浓缩。半纤维素是木质生物质中最易分离的主要成分，因此构成了通过热水提取木质生物质所获得提取物的大部分。热水提取是木质生物质和产品生成过程中的重要一步，取代了其他昂贵的预处理方法。半纤维素的水解产生戊糖（主要是木糖）、己糖（主要是葡萄糖和甘露糖）和乙酸。使用纳滤膜是一种高效技术，可用于分离热水提取物和木材水解产物。热水提取后的残余固体物质能量含量更高，且含有较少易降解成分。这使得后续将纤维素和木质素转化为传统产品的加工更加高效。
