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For the first time, a tandem catalytic material namely 5 wt. % Pd/NbOPO 4 was utilized in the depolymerization of wood in supercritical-ethanol under low initial-hydrogen pressure. The experiments were conducted under various experimental conditions, wood fractionation was executed with fresh, and acetone extracted birch. A comprehensive analysis was performed to elucidate the dissolution efficiency and achieved product distribution. The results indicated fresh birch, 34 wt. % of lignin monomer yield with 84 wt. % delignification efficiency were obtained while extracted wood, 35 wt. % of lignin monomer yield with 78 wt. % delignification efficiency was achieved. The total lignin monomer content extracted from the fresh birch is composed of 76.9 wt. % of dimethoxyphenols and 16.5 wt. % of monomers with the guaiacol structure. Among the dimethoxyphenols, major homosyringaldehyde (61.9 wt. %). Where extracted wood, 93.2 wt. % of dimethoxyphenols (63.6 wt. % homosyringaldehyde) and guaiacol-monomers (6.8 wt. %). It was concluded that the depolymerization occurred via breaking of the ether bonds in lignin, including ether hydrolysis by Lewis acid sites over the solid acid catalyst and with subsequent deoxygenation of monophenols over Pd. In addition, an extraction process was proposed to extract the aromatic fraction from the obtained biocrude.

Hazelnut (HS) and walnut (WS) shells, an abundant by-product of the processing industries of these edible nuts, are traditionally considered as a low-value waste. However, they are a source of valuable compounds with an interesting chemical profile for the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. In this study, the lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts present in HS and WS were quantified and identified, then the polar fractions were chromatographically separated, and their antioxidant capacity was studied. The experimental work includes the isolation of crude lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts by an accelerated extraction process, chromatographic analysis (gas chromatography-flame ionization (GC-FID), GC-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC)), and quantification of the components. In addition, a thorough compositional characterization of the subgroups obtained by flash chromatography and their antioxidant capacity was carried out. The gravimetric concentrations showed different lipophilic/hydrophilic ratios (0.70 for HS and 0.23 for WS), indicating a higher proportion of polar compounds in WS than in HS. Moreover, the lipophilic extracts were principally composed of short-chain fatty acids (stearic, palmitic, and oleic acid), triglycerides, and sterols. The polar fractions were screened by thin-layer chromatography and then separated by flash chromatography, obtaining fractions free of fatty acids and sugar derivatives (97:3 in HS and 95:5 in WS), and mixtures richer in phenolic compounds and flavonoids such as guaiacyl derivatives, quercetin, pinobanksin, and catechin. The most polar fractions presented a higher antioxidant capacity than that of the crude extracts.

BACKGROUND: In the production of biofuels from lignocellulosic material, biocrude plays a key role. The present work deals with the biocrude production through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of birch wood in supercritical ethanol over 5 wt. % Fe‐H‐Beta‐150 (SiO2 to Al2O3 ratio of 150) or 5 wt. % Fe‐SiO2 catalyst. RESULTS: The liquid and solid products were characterized with various analytical techniques such as GC‐MS, GC‐FID, SEC, ICP‐MS, p‐XRD, SEM, and solid‐state 13C MAS NMR respectively. The results revealed that 5 wt. % Fe‐H‐Beta‐150, a strongly Brønsted acidic catalyst, enhanced the biocrude formation when compared with a non‐acidic 5 wt. % Fe‐SiO2 catalyst. Hemicellulose and lignin degradation occurred resulting in formation of mainly sugars, acids‐esters and phenolic compounds in liquid phase. The gaseous atmosphere of hydrogen also enhanced the degradation of biomass. The biocrude yield from birch was 25 wt. % over 5 wt. % Fe‐H‐Beta‐150. The Brønsted acidic catalyst gave higher dissolution efficiency and its clear catalytic effect was observed in comparison to non‐acidic 5 wt. % Fe‐SiO2. The degradation level of lignin in presence of 5 wt. % Fe‐H‐Beta‐150 was high 68 wt. % aromatic products were formed, while only 38 wt. % was obtained with 5 wt. % Fe‐SiO2. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrogen atmosphere enhances the fractionation of birch wood when compared to argon atmosphere. 5 wt. % Fe‐H‐Beta‐150 catalyst enhanced very strongly the degradation of hemicellulose and lignin in biomass to sugars and acid‐esters as well as phenolic compounds, respectively compared to the non‐acidic 5 wt. % Fe‐SiO2 catalyst., Bio4Energy