Fractionation of Eucalyptus regnans wood: properties of the soluble products and reactivity of the treated solids

Abstract

Eucalyptus regnans wood samples were treated with water under diverse conditions, in order to obtain soluble hemicellulose-derived products. The composition of the liquid phase from the treatment leading to the best results was characterized in depth using a combination of spectrophotometric, spectrometric and chromatographic methods; and the susceptibility of the treated solids to further fractionation by organosolv delignification was assessed in additional experiments. The chemical and physicochemical properties of the resulting lignin were determined, and the suitability of the delignified solids as substrates for the one-pot manufacture of ethyl levulinate was evaluated on a quantitative basis.

KEYWORDS:

• Eucalyptus regnans
• fractionation
• autohydrolysis
• delignification

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to “Energía y Celulosa” (ENCE) for supporting this study in the framework of the “Project ENCE-Uvigo for technical-scientific support to the circular economy and sustainable development.”