Catalytic wet torrefaction of biomass waste into bio-ethanol, levulinic acid, and high quality solid fuel

In this investigation, we unveil a pioneering chemocatalytic method, utilizing an H-ZSM-5 catalyst within a batch reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, for the simultaneous one-pot generation of levulinic acid (LA) and/or ethanol during wet torrefaction (WT) of wood cellulose pulp residue (WCPR), yielding high-quality solid fuel. WT parameters include a temperature range of 180 to 260 °C, H2O/WCPR = 10, and reaction durations of 15 to 60 min. Optimal conditions for bio-ethanol production are identified at 180 °C and 15 min, achieving an outstanding 89.8 % selectivity with H-ZSM-5 catalyst. Notably, 69.5 % LA formation occurs at 240 °C after 60 min. Hydrochar assessments include higher heating values (HHVs), decarbonization (DC), dehydrogenation (DH), deoxygenation (DO), enhancement factor, carbon enrichment, surface area, pore diameter, weight loss, and yields of solid, carbon, hydrogen, and energy.