Ethanol and methane production from biomass and phenols extraction from bio-oils using supercritical fluids

Due to the recent environmental problems caused by excessive use of fossil fuel resources, increased attentionhas been given world wide on use of renewable resources such as biomass for the production of alternativefuels and chemicals. Therefore, the efficient and environmentally friendly technologies that can convertbiomass to valuable liquid fuels and chemicals are needed for mitigation of climate change problems. Themajor goal of the proposed research is to develop an integrated process for complete utilization of Canadianbiomass (agricultural waste, forest residue and municipal organic wastes) for the production of either valueadded chemicals or fuel gas using supercritical technology. Supercritical fluid extraction emerges as a newtechnology for the extraction of various biochemicals, which have advantages over traditional solventextraction process by eliminating the polluting organic solvents. Waste biomass will be converted tofermentable sugars using supercritical water treatment where the reaction process parameters will be optimizedfor higher product fermentable sugars selectivity. These sugars will be further converted to bio-ethanol usingvarious enzymes. Biomass will be also converted to fuel gases such as H2, CO and CH4 by catalyticgasification of biomass in supercritical water. Bio-oil is not only the promising alternative fuel but also thesource of many chemicals. Another targeted area of present work is the extraction of biophenolic fraction frombio-oil using supercritical carbon dioxide and then the convertion of the remaining biooils to biochemicals suchas benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) using zeolites. These biophenols and BTX are most promisingalternatives to petro-derived phenols and BTX which find huge market in resin, composite wood and laminateindustry, and chemical industry. Overall the target of the present research is to develop the integratedenvironmentally friendly technologies for the utilization of biomass for fuels and chemicals.