A novel organosolv approach to allow efficient biomass fractionation and successive exploitation

The separation and exploitation of all three main components of lignocellulosic biomass represents a challenging target for biorefinery. In this perspective a novel strategy has been studied for the fractionation and integral exploitation of Arundo Donax L. biomass, a feedstock characterized by low cost, large availability, favourable composition and ability to grow in marginal lands unsuitable for agriculture, avoiding any competition with food chain. The adoption of n-butanol played a fundamental dual role: as fractionation organosolv agent to separate cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin and also as reagent for the conversion of the obtained cellulose fraction to n-butyl levulinate. A preliminary hot water pre-treatment of the biomass for reducing the content of extractives makes the separation even more effective. A preliminary optimization of the main reaction conditions was performed.