Sugarcane bagasse catalytic hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation process under supercritic methanolic condition in the presence of copper-doped porous metal oxides

Abstract

In this project of postdoctorial stage, the catalytic hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation process as pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse for cellulosic ethanol production by enzymatic saccharification and other chemicals used as liquid fuels will be studied. The reaction medium will be supercritical methanol (sc-MeOH) and the catalyst a copper-doped porous metal oxide in a catalytic conversion of sugarcane bagasse to liquid and gaseous products in a single stage reactor. Other transition metals could be used in this process during the stage. The reductive hydrogenation of the lignin can be employed to promote disassemble of lignocellulosic fibers and to produce compounds with a low ratio of oxygen/carbon with higher calorific properties than the original polyphenols compounds released from lignin. Efficient methodologies for convert biomass solids to liquid fuels have the potential of reducing dependence on imported petroleum while reducing the carbon dioxide burden in the atmosphere. (AU)