Promising valorisation method of chitin biomass by producing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using microwave hydrothermal treatment

• Published in: Environmental technology Vol. 45; no. 22; pp. 4576 - 4584
• Main Authors: Long, Yuyang, Xiao, Liqun, Zhou, Dan, Meng, Yanjun, Wang, Lulu, Shen, Dongsheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.10.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; Animal Shells - chemistry; Animals; Biomass; Chitin; Chitin - analogs & derivatives; Chitin - chemistry; Chitin biomass; Deacetylation; Decalcification; Furaldehyde - analogs & derivatives; Furaldehyde - chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrothermal treatment; Hydroxymethylfurfural; microwave hydrothermal treatment; Microwaves; Process parameters; Recycling - methods; Room temperature; valorisation; value-added platform chemical; Waste treatment; microwave hydrothermal treatment; value-added platform chemical; Chitin biomass; 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; valorisation
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2260118

Chitin biomass is the second largest biomass resource on Earth but under-utilized. In this study, pretreated shrimp shells were converted into value-added platform chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) using microwave hydrothermal treatment. Under the combined pretreatment of acid decalcification at room temperature and microwave-assisted alkali deacetylation, the HMF yield could reach 1.8 wt%. The key process parameters, including the holding temperature, holding time, and pH value, were evaluated and optimised. The highest HMF yield of 6.5 wt% was obtained at 202.6°C at a holding time of 5.8 min and a pH value of 1.5. This result demonstrates the potential of synchronously treating waste and recycling it, thereby offering a highly promising valorisation strategy for chitin-biomass utilisation.