Efficient separation of lignocellulose component and furfural production from hemicellulose using a γ-valerolactone/H2O system.

This study investigates a one-step process for the simultaneous separation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from lignocellulosic biomass using γ-valerolactone (GVL)/H2O pretreatment, which also converts hemicellulose to furfural (FF). A response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the process parameters. Under optimal conditions (163 °C for 1.5 h), the maximum FF yield reached 85.36 %, and cellulose purity was 80.80 %. The extracted GVL-lignin was characterized as low-molecular-weight guaiacyl-syringyl (G-S) type nanospheres with significant antioxidant activity. The conversion of hemicellulose to FF was enhanced by the synergistic interaction of Lewis acid (MgCl2) and Brønsted acid (H2SO4), which promoted the isomerization of xylose and dehydration to FF. The high-purity cellulose yielded 18.87 g/L ethanol through separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), 27 times higher than untreated solids. Additionally, GVL exhibited consistent performance in lignocellulose separation after six cycles. This method offers an efficient and sustainable approach to valorize lignocellulosic biomass, advancing the production of high-value products.