PROCEDIMENTO PER LA TOTALE ED EFFICIENTE CONVERSIONE DI ARUNDO DONAX A DARE FURALDEIDE, ACIDO LEVULINICO E DERIVATI LIGNINICI

For the first time a process for the complete and efficient exploitation of the lignocellulosic biomass of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is claimed, employing catalytic conversion. This process allows to obtain with high yields furfural (FA) and levulinic acid (4-oxopentanoic acid) (LA) using one or more proton acids working on aqueous biomass slurry. The solid lignin residue, recovered at the end of the process, can be suitably employed for many technological applications. The process of the instant invention allows to employ the raw biomass without pre-treatments or purifications. The claimed process has been carried out employing traditional heating or microwaves irradiation. The process of the instant invention for the first time claims, respect to the up to now reported experiments carried out on different biomass, the complete exploitation of the three components (hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin) of the lignocellulosic biomass, allowing good yields in furfural and levulinic acid and negligible amounts of by-products.