INFLUENCE OF KEY PARAMETERS OF ALKALINE PRETREATMENT OF BIOMASS IN A ROTARY-PULSATION APPARATUS FOR LIGNIN PRODUCTION

• Дата: 2025
• Автори: Obodovych , O., Didkivska, H., Sydorenko , V.
• Формат: Стаття
• Мова: English
• Опубліковано: Institute of Renewable Energy National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2025
• Теми: bioethanol; alkaline pretreatment; lignin extraction; cavitation; rotary-pulsation apparatus.
• Онлайн доступ: https://ve.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/570
• Назва журналу: Vidnovluvana energetika

In bioethanol production technology from plant raw materials, pretreatment with subsequent hydrolysis is the most energy-consuming stage. Pretreatment technology is improved by combining chemical methods with physical methods. Hydrodynamic cavitation-based technology appears as a promising biomass pretreatment at industrial scales, which may be tailored to continuous or semi-continuous operation, saving time, energy, and operational costs.  This study aimed to assess how the treatment parameters of an alkaline suspension of wheat straw in an RPA affect lignin extraction efficiency during pretreatment for hydrolysis. The wheat straw's alkaline suspension was processed in the RPA in recirculation mode. The variables examined were process temperature and alkali concentration. The solid/liquid ratio and rotor rotation speed remained constant throughout the study series. Lignin content was measured colorimetrically using acetyl bromide.  It was determined that the medium heating during processing due to energy dissipation in the working zone of the RPA contributes to an increase in lignin extraction.  It was established that an increase in the initial temperature of the alkaline suspension of wheat straw from 40 to 90 ºC within one hour leads to an increase in the lignin yield to 69.7%. An increase in the alkali concentration from 1 wt.% to 4 wt.% leads to an increase in the lignin yield from 69.7 to 81.5% of its initial content in the raw material.  Comparing the obtained results of lignin extraction with similar results for other types of processing, it is possible to identify certain advantages, namely, the extraction process occurs at a temperature below 100 °C and atmospheric pressure. As a result of the research, it was found that the impact of a complex of physical processes occurring in the RPA working area allows for an increase in the yield of lignin in comparison with traditional processing with the same parameters of alkaline pretreatment of plant raw materials for fermentation.