Research on the Hydrothermal Conversion of Xylose Catalysed by CO2-H2O into Furfural

Abstract: Agricultural waste treatment and carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion have been critical challenges for sustainable development. This work is part of a study on converting straw into biofuels, which involves using xylose as the material, carbon dioxide (CO2) as the catalyst, and water (H2O) and Gamma-Valerolactone (GVL) as the solvent to produce furfural through hydrothermal conversion.  The experiment applies a 2-level full factorial experimental design to observe the effects of different reaction terms on the hydrothermal conversion process. For the xylose conversion rate, the significant terms and the corresponded effect value (t-value) for the model are Reaction temperature (15.6), Water content (7.9), Temperature'Water (5.0), Reaction time (4.8), and Temperature'Time (2.5). For the furfural yield, the significant terms and the corresponded effect value(t-value) for the model are Water content (13.6), Temperature'Water (10.1), Reaction'Temperature (6.4), Temperature'Time (5.4), Time'Water (3.1), Time'Pressure (2.9), Reaction time (2.4), and Water'Pressure (1.9).  Hydrothermal conversion technology has great potential in biofuel production, agricultural waste treatment and decarbonization, further contributing to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. The renewable biofuel produced through hydrothermal conversion process can be integrated into conventional diesel and gasoline to mitigate fossil fuel usage (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). During the hydrothermal conversion process, carbon dioxide is used as the catalyst in biofuel production, which contributes to decarbonization (SDG 13: Climate Change). Direction combustion of agricultural waste releases harmful gas emissions, while hydrothermal conversion technology offers cleaner and more efficient utilization of agricultural waste (SDG 3: Good health and well-being). Conventional biofuel production requires land diversion for biofuel grown, while the hydrothermal conversion of agricultural waste can produce biofuel while avoiding land competition for food production and food problems (SDG 2: Zero hunger). Combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, the hydrothermal conversion technology can create a circular bioeconomy consisting of carbon dioxide reduction, agricultural waste treatment and biofuel production (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities).