Analysis and Optimization of Para-Xylene Production Process From Sugarcane Bagasse
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Date
2018-06
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AAU
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass has a great potential for biofuel and fine chemical productions. This
study focused on the effective conversion of the lignocellulosic biomasses, particularly
sugarcane bagasse to the most valuable aromatic hydrocarbon called Para-xylene via two-step
acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, dehydration, hydrogenation, and Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction
steps. Para-xylene is one of the most important aromatic hydrocarbons, which is used for the
production of purified polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in which it is used for the production of
world plastics. So, the production of fine chemicals from biomass helps to reduce the
dependence of the imported oils as well as used to improve the overall economic and
sustainability of the world. In this study, the effect of operating variables on the Diels-Alder
cycloaddition reaction between the biomass-derived furan and the suitable dienophile, which is
called Maleic anhydride, was investigated and optimized using the most reactive and selective
Lewis acid catalyst (AlCl
3
). In the Diels Alder cycloaddition reaction, the effects of reactant
molar ratio, catalyst loading and reaction time on the conversion of DMF and the yield of
dimethyl benzoic acid was investigated and optimized using Design expert®7 software. As the
result, 41.4% conversion of DMF and 64.6% yield of dimethyl benzoic acid were obtained at the
optimum values of the operating variables such as molar ratio of the reactant, catalyst loading
and reaction time. And also, the effects of acid concentration and reaction time on the
dehydration of dimethyl benzoic acid to Para-xylene were investigated, and 70.36% conversion
of dimethyl benzoic acid and 49.66% yield of Para-xylene were obtained. In addition to this, the
final product (Para-xylene) was analyzed using FTIR and GC-MS. As the result, the FTIR result
is the same with the standard functional group of 1,4-dimethyl benzene, and 30.88% composition
of Para-xylene were obtained using GC-MS.
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Keywords
Para-Xylene, Sugarcane, Bagasse