CATALYTIC HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION OF LIGNIN INTO BIO-OIL AND NANOMETAL CARBON HYBRIDS IN PRESENCE OF CU CONTAMINATED EFFLUENT

Abstract

Lignin is one of the three main components of lignocellulosic biomass, which is the second most abundant organic polymer found on Earth. Although its heterogeneous, complex structure and presence of high energy bonds attracts researchers to convert it into a sustainable and potential product. In situ hydrothermal liquefaction of lignin was performed by single step process and two step process in presence of Cu contaminated effluent with a motive to enhance the bio-oil yield along with generation of nanometal carbon hybrid. Results shows that reaction temperature affect product yield differently. During hydrothermal liquefaction a maximum bio-oil yield of 28.74% and 24.87% was observed in case of two-step and one step process respectively at optimum condition of 280 ºC,15 min and feed to solvent ratio 1:9 whereas yield obtained when HTL of lignin was done with pure water was 9.40%. As the temperature was increased from 200 ºC to 280 ºC, the total yield of bio-oil was increased from 12.6% to 24.87% for one step process. In contrast, lower temperature and exceedingly higher temperature gives lower bio-oil yield. The light and heavy oil fraction were characterized by GCMS and FTIR for determining the key component and the functional group. Nanometal hybrid was characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, FESEM, MPAES to analyze the transition of Cu+2 to Cu+1 and Cu, average particle size, morphology and percentage dispersion of Cu nanoparticles.