Synthesis of biodiesel from cellulose and hemicellulose obtained from ligneous material

本研究的目的是寻找一种突破性的生态技术，利用造纸和林业行业的可再生自然资源残留物来生产生物柴油。与目前使用的针对三酰甘油型脂类(在不同类型的植物油中发现)的技术相反，这里研究的技术将使用碳水化合物类型的大分子化合物纤维素和半纤维素。由于在上述两个大分子中发现的5和6碳碳水化合物的反应性不同，因此有必要研究两种不同的合成途径。戊糖是具有5个碳原子的碳水化合物，将在酸性水溶液中水解制得糠醛。随后的加氢反应将产生呋喃醇，后者将被水解为乙酰丙酸。己糖是具有6个碳原子的碳水化合物，将首先脱水成羟甲基呋喃，在更恶劣的条件下进一步脱水成乙酰丙酸。在戊糖和己糖途径中，生成的乙酰丙酸将与乙醇或甲醇酯化为生物柴油。所有的合成途径都将由一个分析有机团队密切跟踪。这一结构鉴定过程对于该过程的全面优化以及对该过程所产生的液体溶液的环境影响研究至关重要。除了生物柴油的生产外，这一研究项目还将在未来几年培训加拿大一个非常重要的领域的理科硕士学生。

The aim of this research is to find a ground-breaking ecological technique to produce biodiesel using renewable natural resource residues from the paper and forest industries. In opposition to the techniques used until now which target triacylglyceric type lipids (found in different types of vegetable oils), the technique investigated here will be using the carbohydrate-type macromolecular compounds cellulose and hemicellulose. Because of the difference in terms of reactivity for the 5 and 6 carbon carbohydrates found in the two previously stated macromolecules, it will be essential to investigate two different synthetic pathways. The pentoses, carbohydrates with 5 carbon atoms, will be hydrolyzed in an aqueous acid solution to produce furfural. A following hydrogenation will produce furfuryl alcohol which will be hydrolyzed to levulinic acid. The hexoses, carbohydrates with 6 carbon atoms, will be dehydrated first to hydroxymethylfurfural which will be dehydrated further to levulinic acid under more severe conditions. In both the pentose and hexose pathway, the produced levulinic acid will be esterified to biodiesel with ethanol or methnol. All the synthetic pathways will be closely followed by an analytical-organic team. This structure-identification process will be more than crucial for a complete optimization of the process as well as for an environmental impact study of the liquid solutions resulting from the process. This research project will also allow (in addition to the production of biodiesel) the training of three M.Sc students in a very important field in Canada for the years to come.