All softwood components deconstruction into chemicals in semi-continuous plug flow reactor: unraveling acid versus base catalysed mechanisms in SC MeOH
Abstract
This work is a contribution to the elucidation of the mechanisms of softwood deconstruction into chemicals, catalysed by solid acids (NbPO 4 , Cu/NbPO 4 ) or solid bases (mixed oxide MgAlO, Cu/MgAlO), in SC MeOH and hydrogen free conditions. Wood deconstruction was implemented in a plug flow reactor allowing continuous liquid products samplings to draw kinetic curves evolution of the chemicals evolved. The use of basic catalysts didn't change the wood fractionation observed in catalyst free conditions, with high lignin and hemicellulose conversion (81% and 68% respectively), against 31% cellulose conversion after 8h, in flowing SC-MeOH at 280 • C and 80 bars. A continuous formation of oxygenates derived from hemi(cellulose), not ended after 8h, is observed while the formation of phenolics monomers stops after 5h, once lignin was consumed. Glucosides and pentosides are detected as primary products suggesting that methanolysis is the first activation step of (hemi) cellulose depolymerization. Basic catalysts promote C-C cleavage and hydrogen transfer reactions with MeOH, boosted by copper addition. Favoured chemicals are light esters and glycols, hydrogenated furanics and coniferyl derivatives with saturated side chain. By contrast, coupling softwood deconstruction with the acid catalysts led to the stop of chemicals formation, with much lower yields although softwood deconstruction was completed, including cellulose. Water co-produced by the acid catalysed steps is most likely responsible of the accelerated wood deconstruction by hydrolysis over methanolysis. Phenolic monomers are hardly detected and Furfural/5-HMF are the main chemicals. The solid residues characterization suggests their easy recondensation into carbon by acid catalysed mechanism.
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BibTeX
@article{komenan2026softwood,
title = {{All softwood components deconstruction into chemicals in semi-continuous plug flow reactor: unraveling acid versus base catalysed mechanisms in SC MeOH}},
author = {A A Komenan and M Eternot and N Essayem},
journal = {Biomass and Bioenergy},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109887},
url = {https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-05850745v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - All softwood components deconstruction into chemicals in semi-continuous plug flow reactor: unraveling acid versus base catalysed mechanisms in SC MeOH
AU - A A Komenan
AU - M Eternot
AU - N Essayem
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Biomass and Bioenergy
DO - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109887
UR - https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-05850745v1
AB - This work is a contribution to the elucidation of the mechanisms of softwood deconstruction into chemicals, catalysed by solid acids (NbPO 4 , Cu/NbPO 4 ) or solid bases (mixed oxide MgAlO, Cu/MgAlO), in SC MeOH and hydrogen free conditions. Wood deconstruction was implemented in a plug flow reactor allowing continuous liquid products samplings to draw kinetic curves evolution of the chemicals evolved. The use of basic catalysts didn't change the wood fractionation observed in catalyst free conditions, with high lignin and hemicellulose conversion (81% and 68% respectively), against 31% cellulose conversion after 8h, in flowing SC-MeOH at 280 • C and 80 bars. A continuous formation of oxygenates derived from hemi(cellulose), not ended after 8h, is observed while the formation of phenolics monomers stops after 5h, once lignin was consumed. Glucosides and pentosides are detected as primary products suggesting that methanolysis is the first activation step of (hemi) cellulose depolymerization. Basic catalysts promote C-C cleavage and hydrogen transfer reactions with MeOH, boosted by copper addition. Favoured chemicals are light esters and glycols, hydrogenated furanics and coniferyl derivatives with saturated side chain. By contrast, coupling softwood deconstruction with the acid catalysts led to the stop of chemicals formation, with much lower yields although softwood deconstruction was completed, including cellulose. Water co-produced by the acid catalysed steps is most likely responsible of the accelerated wood deconstruction by hydrolysis over methanolysis. Phenolic monomers are hardly detected and Furfural/5-HMF are the main chemicals. The solid residues characterization suggests their easy recondensation into carbon by acid catalysed mechanism.
SN - 0961-9534
SN - 1873-2909
ER -