Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Pending
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Wood Science and Technology
Committee Chair
Benjamin Dawson-Andoh
Committee Co-Chair
Gregory Dahle
Committee Member
Felton Eugene
Abstract
Valorization of Xylan in Agroforestry Waste Streams.
Harrison Appiah
Microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent and gamma-valerolactone metallic chloride catalyzed conversion of xylan to furfural were investigated using a 2x3 factorial experimental design at two levels of percent microwave power, reaction time, and catalyst concentration. The levels of each factor studied were (20%, 60% microwave power, 2, 4 minutes, and 10, 20mg) respectively. The effect of three metallic chloride catalysts (LiCl, FeCl3.6H20, CuCl2) on the conversion of xylan to furfural was also investigated. The gamma-valerolactone-ferric chloride sent system exhibited the highest mean yield of furfural (56.50%). The next highest furfural yield of 35.54% was given by the gamma-valerolactone- copper (II) chloride catalytic system. A fitted linear mixed effect model shows that the main effects of temperature and catalyst are significant (P < 0.0001). At a longer reaction time of 4 minutes and 20 percent microwave power, the percent yield of furfural increased from 31 to 47%. Increasing power from 20 to 60% (1260 W) caused the yield to decrease from approximately 34 to 26% when 10mg catalyst was used. When 20mg of catalyst was used, yield decreased from approximately 44 to 34%. The microwave used was the solwave model 180MWHD21with a maximum power of 2100W.
Recommended Citation
Appiah, Harrison, "Valorization of Xylan in Agroforestry Waste Streams" (2021). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8050.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8050
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