Rapeseed Straw Biorefinery Process

A rapeseed straw biorefinery process was demonstrated with more than 50% of the straw recovered as products. Xylan with a weight-average molecular weight of 56 760 g/mol was extracted in an alkaline step. The straw residue was subjected to soda pulping, resulting in cellulose-rich fibers and a lignin-rich liquid fraction. The lignin contained syringyl and guaiacyl aromatic structural units in a 1/0.75 ratio. The cellulose pulp was bleached, resulting in a cellulose fraction of 85% purity and a crystallinity index (CI) of 83%. Two grades of nanocellulose, CNF and CNC, were isolated from the bleached pulp. The CNF was very heterogeneous in size with an average diameter of 4 nm and an average length of 1177 nm. The CNC had an average diameter of 6 nm and an average particle length of 193 nm. CNF and CNC had good thermal stability and an aspect ratio of 294 and 32, respectively.