Dialysis and column chromatography for biomass pyrolysis liquids separation

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 168; pp. 311 - 320
• Main Authors: Mora, Mireia, Fàbregas, Esteve, Céspedes, Francisco, Rovira, Pere, Puy, Neus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Bio-oil; Biomass; Column Chromatography; Dialysis; Pyrolytic Lignin; Dialysis; Biomass; Pyrolytic Lignin; Column Chromatography; Bio-oil
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.06.005

[Display omitted] •First time dialysis technique is used for bio-oil compounds separation.•First time XAD7 resin is used for column chromatography separation of bio-oil.•Separation of acids and phenolic compounds from bio-oil.•Obtention of pyrolytic lignin from biomass pyrolysis liquids.•Promoting circular bioeconomy by generating bioproducts from biomass residues. In the current study, a novel approach for separating value-added chemicals from pine wood residues’ pyrolysis liquids (bio-oil) was effectively carried out. It combined two separation techniques used for the first time in this field: dialysis with water, methanol and acetone, and column chromatography with Amberlite™ XAD7 resin. This strategy made it possible to separate bio-oil into four fractions: (1) pyrolytic lignin, which can be utilized in the synthesis of resins, foams, electrodes, asphalt, etc. (2) acid-rich fraction, with particular relevance to the chemical industry, (3) antioxidant fraction, containing phenolic compounds, with a lot of interest for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry, and (4) a final fraction containing the most non-polar chemicals from bio-oil. Thus, it was possible to develop a process that allows the obtention of bioproducts from woody biomass, a residue obtained in significant quantities in the management of non-profitable forests, making a step forward within the context of circular economy and bioeconomy.